Mark Bosnich thinks that Tim Cahill has given the greatest contribution to Australian football of any player in the country's history, as he looks set to end his career, at international level at least.
The 38-year-old is the third oldest player at the World Cup and is his country's leading scorer with 50 goals in 106 games for the Socceroos over his 14-year international career.
However, he may have his last chance of appearing for his national team as Australia prepare to face Peru. Australia need to win and they need Denmark to lose against France to progress through Group C into the last round.
There's a good chance that they may fall short in Russia, but former Socceroos star Bosnich thinks that Cahill could be considered the greatest ever player to pull on the yellow and green shirt.
"There has been far better players [than Cahill for Australia]. You know like Mark Viduka, Harry Kewell and maybe half a dozen," Bosnich told Goal and Omnisport in Samara.
"They were better players than Tim but no one has performed better for the Socceroos than Tim Cahill.
"He has got over 100 caps and his performances for the Socceroos have been the best of anyone over a consistent period. He will forever be in Australia’s minds about that. The goal against Netherlands in the last World Cup, that was a world-class goal.
"He will remain in the minds of Australian football followers and sport followers forever. He is our greatest capped outfield player. He will have that and be revered for that and have that significance attached to him forever, or until there’s another one turns up and I don’t think there will be for a very long time."
Head coach Bert van Marwijk has opted against using Cahill at the World Cup and preferred to use the likes of Tomi Juric and Daniel Arzani from the bench, while Andrew Nabbout, Robbie Kruse and Mathew Leckie have been starting.
Bosnich thinks that Cahill could still be called upon to make one last appearance against Peru, although he does sympathise with Van Marwijk for overlooking such a legendary player.
"It is a toss up between him and Arzani," he added, after speaking about his admiration for the World Cup's youngest player.
"I think the plan was that it would be 1-1 or 0-0 and then it was a draw but then they got that rather fortuitous goal. You have got to say fair play to [Paul] Pogba, he pushed really hard with good interplay but then it came of [Aziz] Behich and came off Matt Ryan but whatever.
"I think then Van Marwijk and Mark van Bommel were like, okay, we have got one sub left. Do we go Timmy or Daniel? Cahill has only played like 60 minutes in his last 10 to 13 games for Millwall so you can understand why people were a little bit [hesitant to use him]. But I think with 10 minutes to go, it is something a little bit different.
"I know we have developed a way we like to play on the ground and all that but I think that was the time to start getting it out wide and actually start lumping it in. Timmy is a real danger in the air."
