Why ‘game-changer’ Tim Cahill can be Socceroos’ World Cup secret weapon
IF Bert van Marwijk wants to cover every scenario the Socceroos will face in Russia, Tim Cahill must be picked for his fourth World Cup, says former teammate Mark Schwarzer.
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TIM Cahill should go to the World Cup if Bert van Marwijk wants to prepare for all scenarios, according to former teammate and Socceroos legend Mark Schwarzer.
The veteran has almost certainly played his final game for Millwall this season, with the Lions needing a last day miracle to make the Championship playoffs on Sunday night (kicked off against Aston Villa 9.30pm AEST).
Cahill’s 224 Socceroos minutes this season - including the double in his 120-minute outing against Syria - could be decisive, considering his paltry 63 minutes in 10 games for Millwall.
His body is still holding up and it’s understood that Cahill is doing intensive additional training in a bid to make an impact in the Socceroos camp if selected.
Cahill was serving the second of a three-game ban for a late elbow, with Schwarzer giving an intriguing insight having attended the match.
Van Marwijk will announce (on Monday) a preliminary squad of 30-35 players for Russia 2018, which will be cut to 23 after an intensive two-week training camp in Turkey.
BELOW: See the definites, probables, possibles and unlikely players for the Socceroos squad
Key players Aaron Mooy, Mat Ryan, Tom Rogic, Mile Jedinak and Mat Leckie will headlined a fully-fit squad, although the batch of bolters is likely to be headlined by Melbourne City winger Daniel Arzani plus several overseas-based players.
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It remains to be seen whether any more A-League bolters emerge from Saturday’s grand final attended by van Marwijk, who plucked Andrew Nabbout and Dimi Petratos from obscurity after watching them star for Newcastle Jets live in February.
Uncapped Victory keeper Lawrence Thomas was awarded the Joe Marston medal after a stunning display, with van Marwijk expected to name four shot-stoppers before culling to three for Russia.
Schwarzer, who played alongside Cahill at the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, said the former Everton man must go.
“If you’re the manager and thinking of taking the best possible squad, ticking as many boxes as you possibly can for various circumstances and scenarios – Timmy’s the one that has to go,’’ Schwarzer said.
“Timmy’s a legend of the game who’s delivered time after time again.
“His biggest problem, and he’ll know it himself, he’s 38 and he’s played very little football in the last 12 months. To make matters worse he got suspended for the last few games.
“How much of a part would Timmy play? I don’t think he’d play 90 minutes. But when you need someone from the bench.
“So for me he definitely has a part to play, without a doubt. How can you deny that? His ability to pop up and score a goal.”
Schwarzer attended Millwall’s 3-0 home loss to Fulham when Cahill came on in the 77th minute.
Cahill was retrospectively banned for elbowing Fulham’s Ryan Fredericks, with Schwarzer offering a unique insight into the Socceroos great’s frustrations in what was his 10th late substitute appearance.
“I was at the game against Fulham, and they brought him on and put him in midfield and that’s the reason why he got frustrated and elbowed the player because he couldn’t get anywhere near the ball,’’ he said.
“He was in the centre of midfield chasing the game, he can’t do that. Those days have passed him.
“Timmy needs to play up front, off the striker or be the number nine where someone runs off him. He hasn’t got the legs to play midfield any more.
“He was completely exposed and frustrated and I was bewildered why the manager put him on in midfield with 15-20 minutes to go.
“But, to bring him on with 15-20 minutes to go (up front), game-changer. Change the style, be more direct, put the ball into the box. There’s no better player than Timmy, so why wouldn’t you take him (to Russia)?”
SOCCEROOS’ PRELIMINARY WORLD CUP SQUAD
Up to 35 players announced Monday 10am
DEFINITES
Mat Ryan (Brighton and Hove Albion FC, England)
Brad Jones (Feyenoord, Holland)
Trent Sainsbury (Grasshoppers Zurich, Switzerland)
Matthew Jurman (Suwon Bluewings, Korea)
Mark Milligan (Al Ahli, Saudi Arabia)
Aziz Behich (Bursaspor, Turkey)
Milos Degenek (Yokohama F. Marinos, Japan)
Mile Jedinak (Aston Villa, England)
Jackson Irvine (Hull, England)
Massimo Luongo (QPR, England)
Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield, England)
Tom Rogic (Celtic, Scotland)
Tomi Juric (FC Luzern, Switzerland)
Robbie Kruse (Bochum, Germany)
Matthew Leckie (Hertha Berlin, Germany)
PROBABLES
Danny Vukovic (KRC Genk, Belgium)
Mitch Langerak (Nagoya Grampus, Japan)
Bailey Wright (Bristol City, England)
Aleksandar Susnjar (FK Mlada Boleslav, Czech Republic)
James Meredith (Millwall, England)
Josh Risdon (Western Sydney)
Josh Brillante (Sydney FC)
James Troisi (Melbourne Victory)
Daniel Arzani (Melbourne City)
Ajdin Hrustic (Groningen, Holland)
Tim Cahill (Millwall, England)
Andrew Nabbout (Urawa Red Diamonds, Japan)
Nikita Rukavytsya (Maccabi Haifa, Israel)
Jamie Maclaren (Hibernian, Scotland)
POSSIBLES
Fran Karacic (Lokomotiva Zagreb, Croatia)
Alex Gersbach (Lens, France)
Sebastian Pasquali (Ajax, Holland)
Dimitri Petratos (Newcastle Jets)
Apostolos Giannou (AEK Larnaca, Cyprus)
UNLIKELY
Adam Federici (Bournemouth, England)
Craig Goodwin (Sparta Rotterdam, Holland)
Kenny Dougall (Sparta Rotterdam, Holland)
Matthew Spiranovic (Free agent)
Brad Smith (Bornemouth, England)
Riley McGree (Newcastle Jets)
Chris Ikonomidis (Western Sydney)
Ryan McGowan (Bradford, England)
James Jeggo (Sturm Graz, Austria)
Awer Mabil (Pacos de Ferreira, Portugal
Originally published as Why ‘game-changer’ Tim Cahill can be Socceroos’ World Cup secret weapon