Cahill vows to earn his Socceroos spot
HE INSISTS there was no sentimentality behind his selection in Australia’s 26- man squad, and Tim Cahill will be “driving even harder” to book his spot at a fourth World Cup in Russia.
The 38- year- old Socceroos stalwart defied his age and lack of club game time for Millwall to make the second cut in Bert van Marwijk’s extended squad ahead of in- form Hibernian striker Jamie Maclaren.
It came a week after van Marwijk labelled Cahill “a special case” and subtly intimated the country’s alltime leading scorer would be named in his final group come June 3.
The other hint came yesterday morning with the announcement that a number of Caltex stores will be renamed Cahilltex in line with the World Cup.
But the man himself held no faith in anything other than his own ability, which he was confident could still make an impact at the highest level.
“I’ve probably spoken once to van Marwijk and that was in the last camp about my fitness in Norway,” Cahill told Macquarie Radio.
“Obviously I’m in great nick because I pride myself on professionalism and being in the top 20 per cent fitness- wise.
“There is no real individual connections for players because they have to come in such a short space of time and produce at a World Cup for Australia ... they don’t have time to be sentimental with players and do them favours.
“And I totally agree with that ... at 38 years old I’m very proud of where I am as part of the 26 but I’m going to be driving even harder now to be part of the 23. I don’t feel any player has a given right – regardless of what you’ve done in your past – to think they’ve got that seat on the plane to Russia.
“I’ll be leaving no stone unturned because football is my life.”
Cahill is in the US and will join the rest of the squad in Turkey next week for an intense training camp includ- ing two warm- up friendlies against the Czech Republic and Hungary.
Van Marwijk’s mandate is based strictly on results, with the Dutchman’s main aim to get the Socceroos out of a World Cup group containing France, Denmark and Peru.
The 2010 World Cup finalist has spoken of his penchant for “fast football” but also of his desire to win using another approach if required. Cahill felt that was the biggest difference between van Marwijk and his predecessor Ange Postecoglou.
“The biggest thing you’ll see with Bert van Marwijk is he plays to situation ... not every game is the same,” he said.