Cahill out to match Pele feat
TIM CAHILL is dreaming of putting his name alongside Pele, Uwe Seeler and Miroslav Klose by finding the net at a fourth World Cup over the next few weeks.
The 38-year-old former Everton forward is Australia’s most prolific international with 50 goals in 106 matches, but has played very little club football for the past year.
That makes him unlikely to start against France in Kazan tomorrow but he will be hoping his habit of scoring at crucial moments for the Socceroos might persuade coach Bert van Marwijk he is worthy of coming off the bench.
“I’ve put so much effort into being here,” said Cahill. “To get on the pitch is one step but to score would just be amazing. People dream of scoring in one World Cup but to join the list of names who are on there now would be priceless.”
Cahill amply illustrated his knack of scoring key goals last October with two, both from trademark headers, to get Australia past Syria in one of two play-offs on their long road to Russia.
“If I get on that pitch, I know I’m going to make sure I’m going to make something happen,” he said. “After that, I’m in a different world. I’d love to join the greats and to do something special for my country.”
France’s Olivier Giroud also looks set to have to settle for a place on the bench.
The 31-year-old Chelsea striker, who has 31 goals in 74 games for his country, suffered a cut on his forehead in France’s final warm-up match against the United States but has been training with a bandage on his head. Kylian Mbappe, 19, and 21-year-old Ousmane Dembele, who have impressed in their warm-up matches, should start along with Antoine Griezmann, 27, to form a fearsome trio.