Tim Cahill certainly knows how to save the best for last.
In his final World Cup appearance, the veteran striker scored his most impressive goal in a Socceroos shirt.
The stunning left-footed volley was a stinging reply to Arjen Robben’s opener for the Netherlands.
It sparked one of the Socceroos’ gutsiest ever showings, prompting Cahill to declare the current side as the best he’s ever played in.
The Socceroos went on to lose 3-2 to end their Brazil campaign but for Cahill the match will forever be a career highlight.
Cahill has now scored more World Cup goals than Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Wayne Rooney combined.
“When you look at your idols like Marco van Basten and even Robin van Persie, they’re the sort of goals they score,” Cahill said.
“You dream as a kid for these opportunities.
“At home in my garden I score like that everyday but this is what’s it’s all about.
“When the ball was flying over normally people expect me to jump and head that from 18 yards but it just sat so beautifully off the shoulder of the defender and I struck it and it went in.
“Football is all about these moments and what better place to do it that in the home of football in Brazil.”
The 34-year-old was full of praise for the young and inexperienced Socceroos side who weren’t rated a chance against the Dutch who had dismantled world champions Spain 5-1 last week.
“I’ve always said we need to be fearless and not take a backward step and regardless of going down 1-0 I though we had the game.
“I’m so proud of this team – the kids. It’s probably one of the best Socceroos teams I’ve ever been a part of.
“We know our jobs, we don’t lose sight of the tactics and what we have to do and the way we build up.
“I understand that today we conceded three goals but we conceded three goals against a team that’s just beat Spain by more.
“I’m very proud because this is my last World Cup and I wanted to leave everything here and as a nation we’ve really earned the respect of the world today.
“So we’ll see what we can do against Spain because we’re not going to take a backward step.”
Cahill drew the first yellow card of the match, clattering into Dutch defender Bruno Martins Indi who needed to be stretched off.
Having incurred a yellow card against Chile the striker will now miss Australia’s clash with Spain.
But the striker was adamant he had no regrets for ending his campaign early.
“No, no sadness. I play for today not tomorrow,” he said.
“If I’m going out there to save myself from a yellow card then I shouldn’t be here.
“I play for moments and in my lifetime I’ve got five of the best moments.”
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