Tim Cahill will lead the Socceroos into action against South Africa after Head Coach Ange Postecoglou today named the striker as captain for the farewell game at ANZ Stadium on Monday night.
Cahill will captain the Socceroos for the first time in his 68th international and today described the moment as: “the proudest day of my football career”.
Cahill, who along with Mark Bresciano is a vice captain for the Socceroos World Cup squad, has been given the honour after Postecoglou chose not to risk captain Mile Jedinak in the farewell game.
“Tim’s leadership and the way he conducts himself in the group as a senior player has been impressive and with Mile not able to play against South Africa Tim will captain the side,” Postecoglou said.
Cahill will lead the Socceroos out onto ANZ Stadium in front of family and friends just kilometres from where he took his first footballing steps as a junior footballer.
“This is far and away the proudest day of my football career,” Cahill said. “I think it’s an honour to put on the green and gold shirt and play for the Socceroos but to lead the team out will be amazing.
“I’ve always said you don’t have to have an armband to be a leader but captaining my country in the sport that has given me everything in life is going to be an amazing experience and I look forward to the responsibility Ange has given me while Mile is out injured.”
MATCH DETAILS
Socceroos v South Africa, presented by NAB
ANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park, NSW
Monday 26 May 2014
Kick off: 7.30pm (AEST)
Gates open: 5.30pm
The match will be broadcast live and exclusive on FOX SPORTS.
Tickets available from www.footballaustralia.com.au/tickets
Ticketing Details
Ticket Prices – General Public
Category A - $85 all tickets
Category B - $55 Adult, $25 Concession, $135 Family
Category C - $30 Adult, $15 Concession, $60 Family
Ticket Prices are inclusive of GST. Transaction and credit card charges may apply.
Concession (Pensioner, Student, Child)
Pensioner: Aged, TPI (valid ID cards) including seniors cards
Student: Full time tertiary and secondary school students (valid ID required)
Child: 4–16 years inclusive (children 3 years and under are free unless they are occupying a seat)
Family Definition - 2 Adults and 2 Children or 1 Adult and 3 Children
National Companion Card Accepted
SOCCEROOS 30-MAN PRELIMINARY SQUAD FOR THE 2014 FIFA WORLD CUP BRAZIL
GOALKEEPERS
Mark BIRIGHITTI (Newcastle Jets FC, AUSTRALIA)
Eugene GALEKOVIC (Adelaide United FC, AUSTRALIA)
Mitchell LANGERAK (B.V. Borussia 09 Dortmund, GERMANY)
Mat RYAN (Club Brugge KV, BELGIUM)
DEFENDERS
Jason DAVIDSON (SC Heracles Almelo, NETHERLANDS)
Ivan FRANJIC (Brisbane Roar FC, AUSTRALIA)
Curtis GOOD (Newcastle United, ENGLAND)
Ryan McGOWAN (Shandong Luneng Taishan FC, CHINA)
Matthew SPIRANOVIC (Western Sydney Wanderers FC, AUSTRALIA)
Alex WILKINSON (Jeonbuk Hyundai FC, KOREA REPUBLIC)
Luke WILKSHIRE (FK Dinamo Moscow, RUSSIA)
Bailey WRIGHT (Preston North End FC, ENGLAND)
MIDFIELDERS
Oliver BOZANIC (FC Luzern, SWITZERLAND)
Mark BRESCIANO (Al Gharafa, QATAR)
Joshua BRILLANTE (Newcastle Jets FC, AUSTRALIA)
James HOLLAND (FK Austria Vienna, AUSTRIA)
Mile JEDINAK (Crystal Palace FC, ENGLAND)
Massimo LUONGO (Swindon Town FC, ENGLAND)
Matthew McKAY (Brisbane ROAR FC, AUSTRALIA)
Mark MILLIGAN (Melbourne Victory FC, AUSTRALIA)
Tommy OAR (FC Utrecht, NETHERLANDS)
Tommy ROGIC (Melbourne Victory FC, AUSTRALIA)
Adam SAROTA (FC Utrecht, NETHERLANDS)
James TROISI (Melbourne Victory FC, AUSTRALIA)
Dario VIDOSIC (FC Sion, SWITZERLAND)
FORWARDS
Tim CAHILL (New York Red Bulls, USA)
Ben HALLORAN (Fortuna Dusseldorf, GERMANY)
Josh KENNEDY (Nagoya Grampus 8, JAPAN)
Matthew LECKIE (FSV Frankfurt 1899, GERMANY)
Adam TAGGART (Newcastle Jets FC, AUSTRALIA)