Cahill may miss Socceroos matches
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The Socceroos could be without Tim Cahill for their upcoming friendlies against Scotland and Lebanon as the midfielder seeks to establish himself at the New York Red Bulls.
Cahill was officially unveiled by the Major League Soccer franchise in New York on Monday following his $1.5 million switch from Everton.
And the 32-year-old said his new team will take precedence in the short-term over the desires of Socceroos coach Holger Osieck ahead of the two friendlies.
Australia play Scotland on August 15 before a second friendly against Lebanon on September 6 before their World Cup qualifier with Jordan on September 11.
Cahill said he hadn’t ruled himself out of the matches but his availability will be determined by the Red Bulls.
“We’ll speak to Holger about the games, but I really need game-time here to put everything into this and to make sure that I’m doing everything right to get fit,” he told reporters.
“That’s something me and the boss will talk about but at the moment Red Bulls take priority.”
Cahill said he’d informed Osieck of his intention to move to the United States but that he wouldn’t have changed his mind if the German said the move would affect his hopes of making Australia’s 2014 World Cup squad.
“I texted Holger beforehand and told him this was my move,” he said.
“I don’t think anyone could have changed my mind about this regardless of their thoughts, good or bad.”
The likelihood of Australian fans ever seeing Cahill compete in the A-League look slim, with the Sydney-product saying he never contemplated a move back home.
“Moving to the A-League would have been a step backwards and that’s no disrespect,” he said.
“I want to still play at a high level. There’s still another World Cup for me to play in and to qualify for with the Australian team. This is a massive opportunity.
“I didn’t speak to any A-League (clubs) and it was never in my plans … I’m more interested in the grassroots level of football in Australia, not playing there.”
Cahill’s American journey will begin when he makes his first outing for the Red Bulls against Premier League team Tottenham in a friendly match in New York on Tuesday (Wednesday 0900 AEST).
Cahill is likely to play a half of the fixture against Spurs and says he’s looking forward to getting straight into the action.
“I know playing tomorrow night might be a bit quick,” he said.
“But I’m here now, I’m feeling fit, I’m feeling good.”
© AAP 2013The Crowd Says (11) | Page 1 of Comments
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August 1st 2012 @ 12:39pm
pete4 said | August 1st 2012 @ 12:39pm | Report comment
Hugely disappointing comment for Tim regarding the HAL. I guess it’s a backward step in $ pay no doubt
August 1st 2012 @ 12:57pm
nordster said | August 1st 2012 @ 12:57pm | Report comment
Hardly he was pretty well correct re the overall standard, their imports at least are much better. So for him and what he is used to, fair enough. Not everyone lives in the eggballer bubble, where every comment needs vetting for the strayan sporting marketplace. Guy was just telling it as he saw it….
What id love to see is an AUS v USA friendly, aleague aussies v mls yanks…that would be a better marker of where the league is
August 1st 2012 @ 1:04pm
pete4 said | August 1st 2012 @ 1:04pm | Report comment
Nordster – to my knowledge Tim has never even played a single match in our domestic competition so why does he even need to bring any comparison up
August 1st 2012 @ 1:10pm
nordster said | August 1st 2012 @ 1:10pm | Report comment
He will have watched games though, are u saying we as fans have no right to comment not having played? I think his views are better informed than most people here like ourselves.
People are stung as they care about the league…but really take away the worry about what the Jones’ (other sports) think and his comments are pretty well accurate imo
Whether he brought the comparison up and what importance he actually gave it in the presser i dont know. Sometimes one comment becomes bigger than intending…some princesses could use some hardening up either way. What he said was no major revelation…
August 1st 2012 @ 1:59pm
whiskeymac said | August 1st 2012 @ 1:59pm | Report comment
i agree with you but the fact remains someone of his profile and standing means comments like this have a much greater weight and authority attached to them. We comment and babble on, no one really cares. He says it and it gets reported across media outlets. His views may not be wrong (or right) but with his standing in the game here a bit more care in his expression wouldn’t have gone a miss. Still its a bit of a beat up and as you say people are making too much out of it. The man remain a legend and committed to the game here even if he has no desire to play HAL – nor does shwarzer or neill or grella or bresciano or chippers at a similar age. The HAL is still improving at a rate of knots, let these guys come back and teach if thats what they want – grassroots needs as much attention as the HAL.
August 1st 2012 @ 2:09pm
nordster said | August 1st 2012 @ 2:09pm | Report comment
True sure i just think if we want players and coaches to comment at all they should be able to be candid even if it sounds ‘bad’ to some folks. Id rather a few comments like this now and then, rather than trying to muzzle them and just ending up with PR fluff.
August 1st 2012 @ 5:22pm
phutbol said | August 1st 2012 @ 5:22pm | Report comment
Following on from all that, we’ve all seen TC’s frosty post game interviews on Fox about people not bagging the Socceroos and supporting them (usually in response to questions of age or similar). Well to be fair even if he didnt mean it he should be careful about portraying a negative PERCEPTION on the A-league as well. It may be a bit of a storm in a tea cup but when guys like him speak, people listen.
August 1st 2012 @ 12:50pm
Stevo said | August 1st 2012 @ 12:50pm | Report comment
Thanks Timmy, you’re still a certified Socceroo legend but please, what’s this about playing MLS becasue you still want to play at a high level compared to A-league? Your comparison between MLS and HAL is a distraction from the real reason which is about earning bulk $$$$. Good on you Timmy but I didn’t fall for the two card trick.
August 1st 2012 @ 1:30pm
whiskeymac said | August 1st 2012 @ 1:30pm | Report comment
have to say Cahill’s contribution and committment to the roos and local game outweigh these reported comments. I agree with the view comparing the two is an issue considering he has not played here, and by all accounts returning players have had to restate their opinions on how strong the HAL actually is (and continues to be). It would appear to me both comps are progressing each season and with the resources and infrastructure and stability in the MLS ahead of the local game he may be right. Didnt need to express it as he did but his desire to promote grassroots here far outweighs one or two seasons in his mid 30s.
on another note it will be interesting to see who gets intot he squad for the scotland game – leckie, kruse, ruky, de vere, herd all being touted….as is neill despite being clubless (but training in the US)
August 1st 2012 @ 2:19pm
jack said | August 1st 2012 @ 2:19pm | Report comment
Yes will be a very interesting squad, some young players are actually coming through we have options !
Herd will be a shoe in, Mgowand and Lowry maybe and Devere a chance. Leckie is the other uncapped player doing well
August 2nd 2012 @ 10:12pm
Lux said | August 2nd 2012 @ 10:12pm | Report comment
Does Timmy really need to work overtime to establish himself with the Red Bulls?
It could well be that Holger needs to open up with a question of his own: is it time to start preparing a new starting XI that does not need to call on Timmy?