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Tim Cahill Prepared to Make Impression in Must-Win Game for Australia
Tim Cahill has declared himself fit ahead of the highly-anticipated World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
The Socceroos have managed to appear in the last three World Cups with their best performance being the round of 16 defeat to Italy in 2006.
Cahill, 37, has admitted that he has been playing with '70-80 percent' fitness for Melbourne City this season after having recuperated from an early season knee problem. The Socceroos legend spent some valuable time with his wife in Mauritius where he had a 14-day training regime, and this has worked wonders for the evergreen marksman.
“You just want to stay involved and that’s why I’m moving heaven and earth to keep the body in tip-top shape. I stepped up the intensity of my training for the last 14 days. I did two sessions a day, one gym, one running session, not too much impact on the body," he told The Herald Sun. "The plan was to be available for selection for the Saudi game. Every offseason has been the same, I train at an intensity that will enable me to play."
Cahill has been largely used as a super sub under Ange Postecoglou in recent games, but he is determined to play a role for the Socceroos, who find themselves third in their qualifier group. Both Japan and Saudi Arabia are equal on 16 points on the table, and a win for the Socceroos could put them level with Saudi, who have performed to their expectations after a prolonged period.
Inter-confederation playoffs is the last thing that any country will want ahead of the World Cup finals, and Australia will be hoping to avoid the potential clash with a North American country by proving their dominance as the Asian champions. The Socceroos entertain Saudi in a World Cup qualifier on Thursday before switching their interest towards a friendly at home versus heavyweights Brazil.