Our second and final member of the exclusive 100 Subway Socceroos club, recollects the phenomenal international career of Tim Cahill.
When you begin to talk about Cahill and his connection with the Subway Socceroo you soon run out of superlatives.
A player you could always count on when Australia seemed on the brink in matches, Cahill ostensibly rose to the occasion and thrived off the pressure and expectation because more often than not, he delivered.
The attacking midfielder-come-striker is second only to Mark Schwarzer in most caps for the national team, but surprisingly did not make his debut until the age of 24.
International career: 2004-2018
Caps: 108
Goals: 50
The journey to 100 appearances
Cahill’s journey with the Green and Gold began in March 2004 in a friendly clash against South Africa and would go onto represent his country for the next 14 years. Synonymous with Socceroos' success, Cahill has been at the forefront of some of the greatest moments in Australian football. A burgeoning player from the ‘Golden Generation’, Cahill’s international career really took off in 2006 at the FIFA World Cup where he scored twice against Japan.
Like many he was a key figure in the Green and Gold’s resurgence as they transitioned into Asia after becoming a member of the Asian Football Confederation from Oceania.
Cahill remains the only Socceroo to play at four FIFA World Cups, amassing nine appearances and finding the net at three of the tournaments. The former Everton and Millwall man also holds a number of scoring records with the Socceroos. He has scored the most goals (50), most FIFA World Cup goals (5), and most AFC Asian Cup goals (6).
He was a part of three Asian Cups, lifting the trophy on home soil in 2015 following a dramatic 2-1 extra-time win against Korea Republic.
Renowned for his aerial prowess, Cahill was world class at attacking crosses, regularly netting headers and was always a threat in the 18-yard-box. Earlier in his career, Cahill operated more as an attacking midfielder/second striker.
He retired in from international football in 2018, playing his final match in a testimonial against Lebanon and in 2022 was named in the Socceroos' Team of the Century.
Iconic moments
2006
Introduced in the 53rd minute with Australia trailing Japan 1-0, what transpired would enshrine Timmy into Socceroos folklore. His 84th minute equaliser was also the Socceroos’ first goal at the FIFA World Cup. But Cahill outdid himself moments later with a shot from distance which ricocheted off both posts and in as the Aussies won 3-1.
2010
Cahill opened the scoring with a splendid header in the final group match at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa against Serbia. In doing so, he became the first Socceroo to score at two tournaments. The side went on to clinch a 2-1 victory but finished third in the group.
2014
In a March friendly against Ecuador in London, Cahill broke Damian Mori’s all-time leading goal scoring record for his country with a brace. Fittingly both goals arrived via his head.
2014
Timmy scored one of the most stunning goals in World Cup history with a phenomenal volley against the Netherlands in Brazil. With the Socceroos having just conceded, Cahill responded a minute later connecting with Ryan McGowan’s diagonal ball to dispatch an incredible strike which thundered in off the crossbar.
2015
In the AFC Asian Cup quarter final clash against China in Brisbane, Cahill produced another moment of magic to break the deadlock. On 48 minutes he reacted quickest to the loose ball with an acrobatic bicycle effort.
