Cahill hoping to top past World Cups
When it comes to Tim Cahill’s career highlights not much can top his historic goal against Japan in the 2006 World Cup.
But the striker is determined to better that moment in Brazil.
Cahill made Australian football history scoring the Socceroos’ first ever goal at a World Cup to inspire a dramatic late comeback against Japan.
He netted again just four minutes later as Australia went on to win 3-1.
For many Socceroos fans, that goal is their fondest World Cup memory.
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Even several of the current crop of Socceroos, who were mere fans themselves watching the game on TV as children, consider Cahill’s goal among their favourite sporting moments.
Fast forward to 2010 and Cahill found the net again on the biggest footballing stage, scoring in Australia’s 2-1 win over Serbia in South Africa.
But the veteran striker doesn’t see why he can’t trump all those memories when Australia take on the might of Chile, the Netherlands and Spain at this year’s showpiece in Brazil.
“When I close my eyes now I see possibly the next best moment for me as a footballer coming up,” he said after training on Wednesday (Thursday AEST).
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“Why can’t this be the best World Cup I am going to play in? Why can’t I leave everything on the pitch and training in the next three group games?
“I love looking back on 2006 and scoring them goals, I love looking back on the goal I scored in 2010 but I will get more pride on looking back on this in the home of football, Brazil, making an impact where it really counts and leaving a legacy that can never be taken.”
Most of Cahill’s teammates from the two previous World Cups have been replaced by younger, less experienced players as coach Ange Postecoglou attempts to rebuild the squad.
But while Cahill remains Australia’s biggest attacking threat, his role off the park has vastly changed.
With the majority of the 23-man squad having never been to a World Cup the 34-year-old, who was appointed Mile Jedinak’s vice captain along with Mark Bresciano, is taking his leadership responsibilities very seriously.
“Responsibility is everything,” he said.
“Just spending time with the youngsters. We chill out in the room, there’s eight of us screaming, playing FIFA and at the same time when out on the pitch making sure I get the most out of them. And afterwards assessing it, asking ‘maybe can you do something that can help yourself?’.
“It’s important you take them from the areas where all they think about is their touch in training, the pass that they made. My job is just to have fun.
“When you are relaxed and fearless off the park it can help you on it.”
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