The value of foreign-developed players: What Football Australia can learn from Morocco for Socceroos success
Morocco is not the only nation to find success with a large contingent of foreign-developed players - and the Socceroos can join that list.
Football Federation Australia chief executive David Gallop has rejected suggestions Tim Cahill’s selection in Australia’s trimmed World Cup squad had been influenced by commercial factors.
The 38-year-old talisman was unveiled as the centre of a marketing campaign by the Socceroos’ primary sponsor Caltex, before the ink was even dry on Bert van Marwijk’s trimmed group of 26.
The opportunistic timing of the ‘Cahilltex’ campaign, whereby a number of petrol stations have been renamed in honour of the country’s leading goalscorer to coincide with the Russia tournament, triggered questions about the fairness of Cahill’s call-up.
While a long-time regular, his selection courted some controversy given his lack of game time since moving to Millwall – 63 minutes over 10 games – and the concurrent omission of in-form Hibernian striker Jamie Maclaren.
But van Marwijk had already made clear his intentions for Cahill and last week called him “a special case” given his proven ability to change a game.
And Gallop moved quickly on Tuesday to hose down talk commercial incentives had played any part.
“I say ‘have a look at Tim Cahill’s track record’,” Gallop said.
“He’s a guy who has just produced for Australian football, for the Socceroos, so many times. He did it against Syria.
“So I don’t think anyone can mock the fact that he is in the 26.”
If Cahill makes the cut for a fourth World Cup, his role is likely to be restricted to a pinch hitter off the bench, given his world-class aerial ability in the box, as well as a leader off the field.
He said he was proud to be selected and would “leave no stone unturned” during a training camp in Turkey to make the final squad of 23 on June 3.
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Morocco is not the only nation to find success with a large contingent of foreign-developed players - and the Socceroos can join that list.
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