Asian Cup 2015: Socceroo Tim Cahill promises Australia won’t back down

THE Socceroos plan to intimidate China in the same way Tim Cahill claimed his side frightened South Korea.

Australia v Korea Republic - 2015 Asian Cup

THE Socceroos plan to intimidate China in the same way Tim Cahill claimed his side frightened South Korea.

Despite Australia losing 1-0 to the South Koreans in Saturday night’s Group A Asian Cup showdown at Suncorp Stadium, Cahill felt it was the Socceroos who bossed the contest, with the only key ingredient missing being goals.

He expects similar dominance at the same venue in Thursday night’s do-or-die quarter-final encounter against Group B winners China.

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Tim Cahill says the Socceroos could see South Korea’s fear.

“You could see the fear straight away,” Cahill said in reflecting on South Korea’s alleged state of mind when he entered the contest and combined in attack with Tomi Juric.

“Even physical encounters, they were apologising when they were bumping into me.”

Cahill also felt the second-half injection of Mathew Leckie and Robbie Kruse had the South Koreans back-pedalling.

“As soon as Lecks and Krusey came on as well they went backwards,” he said.

“I was surprised. For me, the main focus was driving forward and making them feel like they’re in quicksand.

“That’s how it’s going to be when we play China. We’re not going to be sidetracked by teams, because we believe (in) the way we play.

“If we can really affect and change the way they play, we press them, get into their faces and run them into the ground, and play the football we know, we’re definitely going to cause them problems.

“We’re not fearful, we’re not going to take a step backwards just because analysts think it’s going to be another tough test.”

Tim Cahill attacks the goal with his usual commitment.

Cahill said coach Ange Postecoglou’s calculated decision to leave him, Kruse and Leckie out of Australia’s starting line-up against South Korea could have been a “masterstroke” — had the Socceroos scored the necessary goal earn a draw and top the group.

“We did really affect the game especially in the second-half. They didn’t know what hit them when we started to get forward, (it was) just a bit of quality with the final ball (that was lacking),” he said.

“We know we’re going to hurt teams moving forward.”

Originally published as Asian Cup 2015: Socceroo Tim Cahill promises Australia won’t back down