Look out Honduras, Tim Cahill is ready to go
Tim Cahill says he is fit and raring to go for Australia's do-or-die World Cup qualifying play-off clash with Honduras in Sydney on Wednesday.
The champion striker was an unused substitute in the first leg in San Pedro Sula, as he nursed an ankle injury, but he is looking forward to playing his role when a spot at the 2018 World Cup in Russia is decided at Sydney's Olympic stadium.
Asked about his fitness, Cahill said he was ready to start if that is what coach Ange Postecoglou wants.
"If I had to play in Honduras I definitely would have made a contribution," Cahill said.
"That's what it's all about, putting your body on the line and sacrificing for these two games, for such a big occasion for our country to qualify for a fourth consecutive World Cup."
The equation is simple for Australia after a 0-0 result in the first leg; win and they are in.
Another scoreless deadlock would see extra-time and a dreaded penalty shootout — any other result would send the Central Americans to Russia.
But a bullish Cahill said he could not see it going past 90 minutes on Wednesday night.
"Everything is going really well," he said.
"We're not going to be blasé in any way.
"We always respect our opponent but from the performance we've seen in Honduras, I feel the team is ready to put a good performance out."
The Socceroos' all-time leading scorer with 50 goals, 37-year-old Cahill said he was not thinking about an alternative result to winning, and whether that would spell the end of his international career.
AAP
