There is no guarantee that Australia’s all-time leading scorer Tim Cahill will play in the crucial match against Peru, teammate Mark Milligan said.
Cahill was absent from the Socceroos’ line-up in their first two matches against France and Denmark despite the team’s struggles in finding the way to the opponents’ net.
After Thursday’s 1-1 draw against Denmark, Australian fans and media have called out criticism towards coach Bert van Marwijk for snubbing the country’s most prolific goal-scorer in their World Cup’s campaign so far.
We have three strikers that are trying to compete at the minute to put their hand up for this next match,” Milligan told reporters on Friday, as quoted by SBS The World Game.
“I guess all the talk about Timmy and everything, you guys don’t see what we see in camp. While I’m sure, undoubtedly, he’s frustrated that he’s not had his shot yet, the amount of help that he gives to the players around him, including talking today before training, is unbelievable.
“What happens on Tuesday (against Peru) I’m not sure; what I do know is if Tim is called upon, he’ll be more than ready.”
The Socceroos need to beat eliminated Peru and hope France defeat Denmark to have a chance of reaching the knockout rounds.
