The Netherlands have a bounty on Tim Cahill’s head as Australia pledge to keep their one-trick tactic in their World Cup mismatch.
Cahill’s head has been identified by the white-hot Dutch as the chief threat in their Porto Alegre fixture on Wednesday (Thursday AEST).
As Australia forecast no change to their primary scoring plan – kick it to Cahill – Dutch midfielder Nigel de Jong says they’re wise.
“He’s a terrific player that always gives his heart and his all on the pitch, for his country or his club,” de Jong told reporters on Monday.
“We have to be careful because the timing to the ball with his headers is one of the best.
“He is one of the best timers I have seen from all the players around the world.
“So we have to take care of that very well. We have to take this game very serious.”
Cahill, Australia’s leading goalscorer, is one of just eight players to score in three or more World Cups.
The 34-year-old nodded Australia’s sole goal in their 3-1 loss to Chile in their tournament opener in Cuiaba last Friday.
And while the reliance on him is obvious, fellow stalwart Mark Bresciano said the Socceroos wouldn’t alter their main tactic of pinging crosses to Cahill.
“Looking towards the final third of the park, not much is going to change,” Bresciano told reporters on Monday.
“Because we do have a player like Tim, where if we give him the right service, he will be dangerous.
“That is still something that we are going to try to do, provide him service in the box.”
The Netherlands torched Spain 5-1 in their tournament opener but star striker Robin van Persie cautioned against a let-down against the Australians, the lowest-ranked of the 32 nations competing in Brazil.
Megastar van Persie, likely to be marked by novice defenders Jason Davidson or Alex Wilkinson, was wary of heightened Dutch expectations after their stunning triumph over Spain.
“After such a performance, the dynamics have naturally changed,” he said on Monday.
“However, as a country, we shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves.
“We have to stay realistic. We achieved an impressive result but we have a long way to go to win this tournament.
“This is my fifth (major) tournament and I know how these things work. The euphoria vanishes just as quickly as it appears.”
The Australians trained at their base in Vitoria on Monday morning before an afternoon charter flight to Porto Alegre, the southernmost city in Brazil.
But flying the other way was defender Ivan Franjic, who returned home with a torn hamstring.
Franjic appears set to be replaced at right-back by Ryan McGowan, who will join Matthew Spiranovic, Wilkinson and Davidson – with just 45 internationals between them – to try and stop the might of the Dutch attack.
The Bear
Guest
post game I am inclined to agree whole heartedly. definitely not having the best tournament.
AZ_RBB
Guest
http://instagram.com/p/pY6CYhqVVB/# - this is stunning. just stunning. :D
Simon
Roar Rookie
Aussies will be hoping much the same! NSW winning after eight years has set up the night to be something special... Now it's over to the boys in Brazil!
AZ_RBB
Guest
World Cup football is unpredictable stuff as this tournament has shown many times already. Mexico, the team struggling to beat Hondurus and Costa Rica not long ago, held Brazil goalless this morning. Anything can, and will happen!
Simon
Roar Rookie
Before the World Cup, Nate Silver (Five Thirty Eight) said that Australia's biggest chance of scoring was against the Netherlands. Well, I bet he didn't see 5-1 coming either...
Simon
Roar Rookie
That's right, we've never lost to the Dutch. But we've never had to play Robben and Van Persie in such form either... I reckon Adam Taggart could make a big difference in this game—he collected Golden Boot because he knows how to score! But yeah, all up, if the Aussies can frustrate the Dutch, you never know what can happen.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Not far away now. Come on you Socceroos.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Whoever we put on Robben is going to have to be quick...having two defenders cover him just leaves Van Persie or Sneijder potentially free. Hard to see how this game will go. If we can contain them without scoring for a large stretch, that will put more wind into us and maybe play on them a bit. A couple of hard tackles that they don't like and the ref ingores and they might start whinging...who knows then. Halloran or even Taggart could be on for a bigger stretch of this game if we want to give their defence some of our own speedy attackers to think about. Cahill was knackered by the end of the Chile game. That may be a luxury we can't afford in a few hours time. Nervous but with hope. We have a stat to keep up ;-)
BigAl
Guest
most of the comments don't seem to agree with old Les !
Mick
Guest
Did anyone else watch the first 30 mins or so of Holland v Spain & have that sneaking little thought that Holland might be the least of our worries, and that it'd have been better if we'd picked them up for game one? Man how wrong that turned out to be.
me too
Guest
Let's hope we disappoint those hoping for a goal fest and get them onside cheering for an upset that will shake the world (or at least deflate the rather large egos of the Dutch).
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Nice reading before the game. "Why we love Timmy" by Les Murray http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/blog/2014/06/17/why-we-love-timmy -------- It's staggering to think there will be probably be more people around the world simultaneously sitting down to watch 11 lads from Australia kick a ball around in 8 hours, than have watched any Aussies do anything before.
Dan Wilkins
Roar Rookie
The Dutch only need to focus on one or two players, one of which is Cahill. Unfortunately, the opposite is not quite as luxurious. Netherlands will look to hit Australia hard early and get a 2 or 3 goal lead. If this ends up occurring, they will sub off star players and play a game of maintaining possession. I'll admit, i'll probably just record the game and get a good nights rest ;)
magila cutty
Guest
I think "nervous" overstates their concern and if our chances are based on 'anything can happen' (and they are) were are in the brown stuff. Post the cup Timmy can get back to " helping build something" in the mls. A great Australian.
Magic Sponge
Guest
Must be absolutely shitttttttttttttttttttting themselves. Might be 10-1 (header from Cahill)
me too
Guest
Think it's a lot more than eight players to have that honour. Not my list below, courtesy of Bigfooty: Four World Cups: Pele (BRA) Uwe Seeler (GER) Three World Cups: Gabriel Batistuta (ARG) Diego Maradona (ARG) Tim Cahill (AUS) Ronaldo (BRA) David Beckham (ENG) Michel Platini (FRA) Dominique Rocheteau (FRA) Miroslav Klose (GER) Jurgen Klinsmann (GER) Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (GER) Rudi Voller (GER) Lothar Matthaus (GER) Roberto Baggio (ITA) Cuauhtemoc Blanco (MEX) Arjen Robben (NED) Robin Van Persie (NED) Grzegorz Lato (POL) Andrzej Szarmach (POL) Sami Al-Jaber (KSA) Joe Jordan (SCO) Park Ji-Sung (KOR) Fernando Hierro (ESP) Raul (ESP) Julio Salinas (ESP) Henrik Larsson (SWE) Clint Dempsey (USA)
dasilva
Guest
I hope Ryan have a great game as well. I'm not that certain about him He seems excellent with his feet, able to give good passes with his accurate kicking and throwing and hence suits Ange style of play However when it comes to the core skill of keeping which is shot stopping for the Socceroos, at best he just seems solid. No mistakes but no real great saves under his belt either. I think if Schwarzer was playing, he could have pulled out a great save for at least 1 of those 3 goals It's not so much I think Ryan is a bad keeper, it's just I don't think he really stands out. Really I feel he really needs to have a great game then just merely solid against the Dutch if we are getting anything the
langou
Roar Guru
"Socceroos are certainly not the worst team in the tournament," Nah Spain is by the looks of things
Rich1612
Guest
Football's a funny game they might, then again they might not. It has been interesting watch/listening to the world's press about the Socceroos - the game v Chile has commanded much respect. Now all the teams have played a game (Brazil & Mexico 2) the Socceroos are certainly not the worst team in the tournament, which many thought they would be. It is critical they don't get scored against early and that they never go down by more than 2 goals. PS I really hope Matt Ryan has one of his best games - the team really needs him tomorrow.
Clark
Guest
Australia will get thrashed, there is no doubt about it