Even in retirement, Tim Cahill is still scoring for the Socceroos.
Australia’s greatest ever international goalscorer came to the rescue time and time again during his legendary 108-cap Socceroos career. And while the 42-year-old won’t be on the pitch in Qatar, he’s already playing a critical role in an Australian World Cup campaign with a significant twist.
Australia’s bold public stance against Qatar’s human rights record — and laws against homosexality — is the strongest taken by any of the 32 competing nations so far. The polarising protest was met with a stern response from the hosts and is likely to have ruffled some feathers internationally, even within sectors of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
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Enter Cahill, whose ties with Qatar could help alleviate any issues, or inconveniences, Australia may experience on the ground as a result of the protest video that featured players condemning the host nation.
Cahill won’t be expected to play diplomat on what is an extremely complex and sensitive issue but he is a man who can help get things done in Qatar, and he’s already played a key role in that respect.
The Everton legend helped secure Australia’s World Cup base in Qatar, the Aspire Academy — where he was appointed Chief Sports Officer last year — and he’s been busy in the lead-up to the camp, which begins when players start arriving in Doha from Monday.
“Timmy is going to be involved (in the camp) and he’s already doing great work on the ground for us to make sure everything is in order,” Socceroos coach Graham Arnold told foxsports.com.au.
“The facility is incredible and with having Timmy there, he’s a legend and the passion that he’s got for the Socceroos, having him who works at the Aspire,we’ve got the best resources there to perform.”
Australia’s players will eat, sleep and train at the spacious facility, which features a full-sized indoor pitch, seven outdoor pitches, and other sporting facilities including a swimming pool, outdoor gym and squash courts. Cahill has been playing a key role in ensuring finishing touches are applied in areas where the Socceroos will gather, train and sleep.
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The facility features dormitory-style accommodation but Arnold believes Australia has struck gold with the facility, which will also be used as the base for host nation Qatar.
“There’s two nations staying in a Aspire, Qatar and us. For me that’s says enough. If the home nations staying there, why wouldn’t we want it?,” Arnold said.
“It’s not a normal World Cup with three weeks preparation and then five days in between games. This is so condensed and so short, so the focus has to be more on recovery with only three days in between.
“To have those types of resources we do to get that done, it’s fantastic.”
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