Tim Cahill, a former Socceroo, has reminded Australia’s gallant World Cup-bound players that tough trials lie ahead before they can compete in Qatar in 2022.
Following a goalless 120-minute draw, Australia qualified for their sixth successive World Cup with a nail-biting 5-4 penalty shootout win against Peru at Al Rayyan Stadium on Tuesday, with Cahill in the stands.
Cahill has a message for the triumphant Socceroos players now that they have booked their jet tickets to Qatar for the November-December tournament: participating in the World Cup is not a given despite qualification.
“There’s no assurance you’ll be chosen,” Cahill told the Associated Press.
“I’ve played in four World Cups, but there’s a lot to consider when it comes to injuries and form.
“They’re the factors that they wouldn’t have considered last night.
“After 2005, the first thing that sprang to me was how I was going to get on the plane. This was my first World Cup. What am I going to do to keep in shape? When I return to Everton, I need to play well.
“Every World Cup is the same. I doubt that was their first thought as they walked away from the pitch.
“That would have been both relief and elation, but I believe it will hit when they return to their clubs and have to make sure they can get on that plane.”
Players commented about Cahill’s presence in the dressing room after the match, with the Australian icon addressing the group before both the UAE and Peru matches.
Cahill, on the other hand, downplayed his influence on the players, maintaining that he was simply a patriot.
“It’s nice for me to share my knowledge, but I’m also a fan,” he remarked.
“I’m not a member of the Australian national team’s coaching staff.
“They had their team, their federation, and it was the eleventh hour.
“We had to put everything we could together as a unit to make sure that anyone that could support the national team at this moment in time, to give one per cent to make us better or improved, then in the end everyone’s played a massive part.”
