Tim Cahill: A man for the big moments

I have to admit to being a little reticent writing this article given the big Aussie contingent on The Roar. It is however a genuine piece and the player in question is very worthy of praise.

While watching the Asian Cup final at the weekend – an excellently run tournament, extolling the virtues of a shorter, sharper format – it occurred to me that I was watching the very last of the twilight of an extremely good player.

Step forward Tim Cahill.

While Cahill’s qualities are widely revered in Australia, fans in England and Europe may have failed to notice just how good he actually was.

As I watched this evergreen 35-year-old give a clinic in the role of a hard-working false nine against South Korea, it struck me that what makes Cahill such a fine player are his contributions when it matters. He never hides in the big tournaments and matches.

While Cahill admittedly missed games in the World Cup due to suspension (very harshly in 2010), he also scored goals. He was the first ever Aussie to score at the World Cup finals in 2006, going on to play his heart out as Australia cruelly went out to Italy.

He had also scored crucial goals in the qualification rounds, as he did again for the ’10 tournament. That sending off against Germany meant he only reappeared in the third game against Serbia where, again, he duly found the net.

Cahill again scored goals as Australia qualified for 2014. It was clearly not a vintage Socceroos team at the finals but Cahill still managed to score one of the goals of the tournament. He joins a select group of players to have scored at three World Cup finals.

His performances at the recent Asian Cup belied his advancing years, scoring in the opening game and both goals in the quarter finals. Cahill is a man for the big occasion.

Thinking back it also occurred to me that one of my good mates, a huge Liverpool fan his entire life, absolutely could not stand Tim Cahill. The mere mention of his name brought the kind of reaction I am sure Roy Keane would reserve for Sir Alex Ferguson. The Merseyside rivalry is quite often a fairly friendly one and Cahill seems quite a decent bloke, so why should that be the case?

Because Cahill scored goals in Merseyside derbies, five to be exact, during his time at Everton.

Cahill got his chance in the Premiership slightly too late and at Everton. Maybe he should have scored more goals, however he did score important ones. Cahill was a very unselfish player and somewhat of a utility man for the Toffees, plugging gaps in a small squad.

An attack-minded player such as Cahill would always thrive in an attacking team, something Everton were not always during his years there. Cahill performed admirably for the blue half of Merseyside.

Several injuries (and the odd suspension) have also curtailed Cahill’s contributions over the years but there is no doubt that he was – and still is – a highly effective player.

He wasn’t as prolific as a Frank Lampard, didn’t have the range of passing of a Paul Scholes, or the natural talent of a Harry Kewell. But what Cahill did possibly lack in ability, he made up for with effort, application and character – especially in the big matches. He also had wonderful timing on his runs into the box, something he did share with the likes of Lampard.

I for one will miss watching him on the big stages.