The Sydney Morning Herald
 

Cahill's national service pledge
By Michael Cockerill, 10 June 2005

His manager at Everton wanted him to take a break but Tim Cahill was 'having none of it'.  A more pressing concern is to reproduce his terrific club form for the Socceroos.  Michael Cockerill reports from London.

Tim Cahill is tired, perhaps even exhausted, but there will be no rest for Australia's man of the moment — and he wouldn't have it any other way.

At the end of his first, stunning season in the English Premier League, Cahill could have taken the chance to recharge his batteries.  But, after a brief respite in the Caribbean, here he is, wearing the Australian team tracksuit as he reclines in the lobby of a London hotel and declaring there is nowhere he'd rather be.

In an era of relentlessly conflicting demands, international football has to fight for its rights.  Clubs, managers, officials — and many players — see it as a chore, a vestige of a bygone age of amateurism, parochialism and patriotism.  Commercialism, in the form of club football, rules the world, and nowhere does it dominate the landscape more than in England, where Cahill has spent all of his professional career.

But the 25-year-old midfielder, whose debut-season exploits for Everton have won him a new army of admirers, is having none of it.  He wants to play for his country, as many times as is humanly possible.  Less than two years after he timidly poked his head through the door at the Socceroos' hotel in Dublin — a meet-and-greet with coach Frank Farina ahead of the rule change that finally made him eligible to wear the green and gold — he has become part of the furniture.  Cahill waited nine years for the chance to play for Australia and, like a comfy old sofa, he doesn't want to throw it away.

After spending last year's off-season playing for Australia at the Olympics, Cahill is now sacrificing another northern-summer break to play for the Socceroos in this month's Confederations Cup.  That's two years without a proper rest, and for a player who clocks around 12½ kilometres a game running from box to box, it adds up to an enormous physical toll.

Cahill knows his body better than anyone, and he knows what it is telling him.  But his mind is telling him something else, and he is happy to let his heart rule his head.  In a World Cup year, sacrifices have to be made.

"It's been amazing, the last year, and obviously you feel it now," he says.  "But I wouldn't have it any other way.  It's been tremendous.

"When you're playing football you enjoy it, you get through it.  The body is tired but when it comes to actually playing the game, it's mental as well, so I figure you just get through it.  I haven't had a break for a long time.  It's just one of them things I've got to get through.

"I owe it to myself to play for my country.  I love playing for my country.  The gaffer [Everton manager David Moyes] obviously would love it for me to have a break, and come back pre-season fully fit and ready.  But he knew I was having none of it so he just said, 'Be careful'.

"I love being involved in this squad, they're a great bunch of lads.  I know I could be on holiday right now but I prefer to be here.

"This is great preparation for the World Cup [qualifiers], so we need to get as much out of it as we can.  The Confederations Cup, it's a great competition, we're playing Germany and Argentina who are two massive teams.  Even Tunisia [Australia's other group opponents] will be difficult to beat.

"So what this is all about is to build together as a team and a squad.  We need to get in as many games and as many training sessions as possible.  That makes it easier for Frank because he's under a bit of pressure at the moment and if we do well and get results, we'll pull him through."

Cahill's contribution of seven goals in six appearances since his debut against South Africa early last year already looms as a key factor.  For a player still effectively a novice in the international arena, that might sound like unwanted pressure, but the good news for Farina is that Cahill is up for the challenge.

The better news for Everton fans is that the talismanic midfielder they call "Tiny", the player whose goals helped steer the Toffees into next season's Champions League, is not only enthusiastic, but loyal.  Cahill stayed seven seasons at his first club, Millwall, and the way he is talking there won't be another club before he retires.

Although there are still four years left on his Goodison Park contract, Cahill's outstanding start gives him the chance to do one of two things — agitate for a move to an even bigger club or negotiate an upgraded contract.  Cahill won't be moving, and any contract discussions will take place in an atmosphere of mutual respect.

"The biggest thing I've done is I haven't put pressure on myself, and neither has the gaffer," Cahill said.  "I said to myself when I first joined after the Olympics that I'd just be happy being part of the squad, but if I get my chance it's all about taking it.  I think I've done that, and next season will be even bigger.  What's done yesterday is done, now I've got to carry on tomorrow and do the best I can.

"Myself as a footballer, I definitely want to sign again for Everton.  There's a lot of speculation about myself, about what a great season I've had.  If I sign for Everton straight away it just stops it.  I'm not one for dragging things out — regardless of personal terms I want to stay.  It's the club that's given me my chance in the Premiership.  I like the manager, they're a great group of lads, and I want to show loyalty to the club. It's about kicking on and helping Everton move forward, which is what we're doing at the minute with the Champions League."

Blue to the core, Cahill shows his true colours when he talks about the red half of Merseyside, and in particular Liverpool's bid to change the rules and force their way into next season's Champions League.  Everton qualified ahead of their arch-rivals but Liverpool's recent victory in the 2004-05 final has opened discussions about whether the champions should be allowed to defend their crown.  The European body, Uefa, could make a ruling on Friday.

"Fair play to them, they won the Champions League," Cahill said.  "But rules are rules.  You can't just change the rules whenever you want to.  When you start picking and choosing what you want to do when it suits someone, its very debatable.  But I suppose as long as we're there that's all that matters."

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[The above is unedited and provided within ToffeeWeb for archival purposes.]