Proud stand-in skipper Tim Cahill say the Socceroos love the style they’re playing at the Asian Cup and isn’t surprised how many people other than himself are scoring.
Australia breezed through to the quarter finals on Tuesday in Sydney, with a 4-0 rout of Oman, their biggest ever goal tally and largest win against that nation.
For once, Cahill, Australia’s all-time leading goalscorer didn’t get on the scoresheet and Australia have had had eight different scorers across their first two matches.
That’s a stat that might surprise many, given much of the pre-tournament talk about Australia’s reliance on Cahill to score.
Cahill said as many as 10 or 12 Socceroos could have scored across the two games and wants Australia to keep the momentum going in their final group game on Saturday against South Korea, who they lead for first spot on goal difference.
“Just because we’ve qualified for the quarter finals, we’re not going to rest,” Cahill said after the game.
“We want maximum points, we want to win games,and we want to keep making an impact because we love the football, we love the style we’re playing
“With Millsy (Mark Milligan) and Matty (McKay) coming in tonight, the way they moved the ball quick.
“The penetration of the pass, the way we we’re getting in behind, they couldn’t deal with the waves of pressure, they couldn’t deal with our or fitness.”
Cahill was substituted after 50 minutes, but said Australia’s pressing style on the opposition wasn’t tiring the players.
“It’s not taxing, because the boys are fit, even for myself,” 35-year old Cahill said.
“We’ve prepared to be like this, the fitness with the football and with the play.
“It’s not what they (the opposition) expect. They expect to have the ball and play football.
“When you’re tired, come off the park someone else will do it.”
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