Tim Cahill calls time on legendary Socceroos career
ONE of Australia’s greatest footballers, Tim Cahill, has announced his retirement from the international game.
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ONE of Australia’s greatest footballers, Tim Cahill, has announced his retirement from the international game.
The Socceroos legend, 38, confirmed via Twitter that the World Cup Group fixture against Peru was his last game for the national side.
“Today’s (Tuesday) the day that I’m officially hanging up my boots on my international career with the Socceroos,” Cahill tweeted.
“No words can describe what it has meant to represent my country. Massive thank you to everyone for the support throughout all my years wearing the Australian badge.”
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Today’s the day that I’m officially hanging up my boots on my international career with the Socceroos.
— TIM CAHILL (@Tim_Cahill) July 17, 2018
No words can describe what it has meant to represent my country. Massive thank you to everyone for the support throughout all my years wearing the Australian badge. pic.twitter.com/gqnM1HWA7S
This should be the biggest talking point in Australian football today.
— Daniel Garb (@DanielGarb) July 17, 2018
Japan ‘06. Serbia ‘10. Chile, Netherlands ‘14. Asian Cup 2015. Syria in Sydney 2017 and a fair few more.
No-one has delivered more in the famous @Socceroos shirt. âš½ï¸ðŸ‡¦ðŸ‡ºðŸ‘ https://t.co/dCTOYzTBat
.@Socceroos legend and Australia's all-time leading goalscorer @Tim_Cahill has confirmed his retirement from international football: https://t.co/JA3eAqFI5S #ThanksTim pic.twitter.com/M3jmHz6CPg
— Socceroos (@Socceroos) July 17, 2018
Just the biggest congrats to the legend @Tim_Cahill on an incredible international career. A true professional on and off the park ðŸ‘👌
— Carly Adno (@CarlyAdno226) July 17, 2018
Tim - Thankyou for everything you’ve done for our code and country. Forever our Socceroo. Cheers mate🇦🇺⚽ï¸ðŸ‡¦ðŸ‡º pic.twitter.com/1tmmOQi1L7
— Lliam Parslow (@parslow77) July 17, 2018
Cahill made history at the recent World Cup in Russia, joining the likes of Brazil legend Pele to play in four consecutive tournaments.
Cahill played 107 games for the Socceroos - just missing out on Mark Schwarzer’s record (109 matches) - but finished as Australia’s most prolific goal-scorer, netting fifty international goals.
The versatile aerial magician’s exit from the international arena was not the send off Australia expected, with interim Socceroos coach Bert van Marwijk refusing to bow to public pressure and give Cahill big minutes in Russia.
But Cahill’s lasting legacy will be as the Socceroos’ great talisman, with many of his goals coming at moments when Australia needed them the most.
His double against Japan at Kaiserslautern in 2006 made him the first Australian player to score at the World Cup, transforming him into a national icon in a flash.
He also scored at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups - producing arguably the goal of the tournament at the latter with his rasping volley against the Netherlands to pull them level at 1-1.
Cahill backed that effort up again the following year at the Asian Cup with both goals in Australia’s 2-0 quarter-final win over China in Brisbane - the first a spectacular overhead bicycle kick, the second a trademark header.
And while his influence waned over the ensuing years, he produced the goods again as the Socceroos battled to qualify for Russia.
With Australia 1-0 down in their play-off against Syria, Cahill struck twice - once in regulation time, once in extra time - to put them on course for the two-legged battle against Honduras from which they emerged victorious.
The evergreen Cahill is expected to continue his club career.
- with AAP