World Cup may be over for Cahill

[admin]

Tim Cahill broke down in tears as he reflected on his sending-off in Australia's 4-0 thrashing by Germany and the possibility that his World Cup might now be finished. Describing himself as "shattered", the Everton midfielder said it was the "worst experience of my career" and pleaded with Fifa to show him some leniency.

Cahill was shown a red card by the Mexican referee Marco Rodríguez after a late challenge on Bastian Schweinsteiger, 55 minutes into a game. He must now wait for Fifa's disciplinary committee to make a ruling on the seriousness of the offence. If it is deemed to have been an instance of unduly reckless play, he will be suspended for the remainder of Group D. He would thus play no further part in the competition if Australia were eliminated at the end of the first stage.

"You can all see how upset I am," said Cahill. "I'm sorry to be like this. I don't usually cry but I'm just hurt. To have my World Cup shattered in that way is one of the worst things I have ever experienced. I have been through a lot of different things in football but nothing this painful and I have to admit it's hit me really hard.

"I don't have a clue what will happen now but what I can say for certain is that it's the hardest thing I have ever had to deal with as a footballer. Nothing comes close to this. It was my dream to play in my second World Cup and it was something so special for me to represent my country. To have it snatched away from me so quickly is a feeling I never want to experience again."

Cahill's only hope of playing any further part in the group phase is if Fifa decides that Rodríguez, who is officiating at his second World Cup finals, made a mistake.The Everton player said that he was not optimistic.

"Hopefully the people at Fifa will understand there was no malice about it," he said. "You know as a player when you have done a bad challenge and you hold your hands up. But it's been nice that all my team-mates have come out on my behalf and said it wasn't a red card. I'll leave it for everyone else to make up their minds.

"I was in a state of shock when I saw the red card but what you have to do in those situations is remain respectful to the referee and that's what I tried to do. I asked him about it after the game but he refused to answer. I asked the fourth official and he said he hadn't seen it."

Cahill received the support of several of his team-mates, with the Australia captain, Lucas Neill, condemning Rodríguez's performance. "It wasn't a red card," he said. "I've seen it on video and Tim goes in for the challenge but then realises he isn't going to get the ball so he actually tries to pull out. We think the decision went against us and that was the case all night. We're going to lose him for at least one game now because we can't appeal but, if he gets two games for that, the referee seriously needs to look at himself."

Cahill had to gather his composure several times as he spoke to reporters. "This was my World Cup dream and it feels like someone has taken it away from me with one decision," he said. "I trained so hard for this tournament. I played 50-odd games for Everton and kept myself in top shape and now I might not be part of the World Cup any more. I can't find the words to describe how low I feel."

Whilst talking to reporters, German midfielder Schweinsteiger approached Tim Cahill to tell him it was not a red card. Tim Cahill burst into tears again.

[Mr Magoo]

After the flamin' NZ game in Melbourne the flamin' coach told the flamin' guy don't flamin' tackle like that at the flamin' World Cup or you'll flamin' get sent off. Did the flamin' cry-baby flamin' listen? No flamin' way he did !

[Squizzy]

After the flamin' NZ game in Melbourne the flamin' coach told the flamin' guy don't flamin' tackle like that at the flamin' World Cup or you'll flamin' get sent off. Did the flamin' cry-baby flamin' listen? No flamin' way he did !

True but I don't think that it was a "tackle" - that's the argument.

[Mr Magoo]

Tim Cahill, right, is reprimanded by the referee for his tackle on Leo Bertos during Australia’s win over New Zealand. Photograph: Paul Crock/AFP/Getty Images

[Knight7]

After the flamin' NZ game in Melbourne the flamin' coach told the flamin' guy don't flamin' tackle like that at the flamin' World Cup or you'll flamin' get sent off. Did the flamin' cry-baby flamin' listen? No flamin' way he did !

Tackle against New Zealand deserved a Red, the tackle last night would normally be a yellow, you'd have to be blind to think otherwise

Oops sorry Mr Magoo I just realised

[ozzie owl]

Poor tackle but not a straight red.

[swannsong]

Considering there was a fairly crude tackle on Neil that didn't even earn a free kick :?

[Mr Magoo]

Tackle against New Zealand deserved a Red, the tackle last night would normally be a yellow, you'd have to be blind to think otherwise

Looks like Timmy's all square then. Apologies if I'm one-eyed but NZ doesn't have many players even close to the standard required at the WC (prob only Nelsen tbh) and Grella vs Bertos and Timmy vs Bertos in Melbourne nearly took one out. There was a clear warning then from ref, coach and you all to be squeaky clean and Timmy muffed it. In true Aus fashion, won't even admit any responsibility.

[swannsong]

Cahill sees red !

[Big G]

I think in all honesty he tried to pull his legs out of the challenge which the ref interpreted him just trying a double kneed challenge. Bad red, but credit to Tim, he just walked off.

[notisre]

late tackle from behind, whether he tried to pull out or not, can't argue with that red, couldv broken the guy's leg. idiot socceroos need to learn to tackle. their rough reputation has just been reinforced. you cant use physicality as a substitute for skill!

[# 9]

I think in all honesty he tried to pull his legs out of the challenge which the ref interpreted him just trying a double kneed challenge. Bad red, but credit to Tim, he just walked off.

thats exactly what happened.

[MG&Son]

late tackle from behind, whether he tried to pull out or not, can't argue with that red, couldv broken the guy's leg. idiot socceroos need to learn to tackle. their rough reputation has just been reinforced. you cant use physicality as a substitute for skill!

yes, broken his leg with the sharpness of his shins.

[10]

Tackle against New Zealand deserved a Red, the tackle last night would normally be a yellow, you'd have to be blind to think otherwise

Looks like Timmy's all square then. Apologies if I'm one-eyed but NZ doesn't have many players even close to the standard required at the WC (prob only Nelsen tbh) and Grella vs Bertos and Timmy vs Bertos in Melbourne nearly took one out. There was a clear warning then from ref, coach and you all to be squeaky clean and Timmy muffed it. In true Aus fashion, won't even admit any responsibility.

missing a world cup game as opposed to missing a couple of international friendlies? all square? fucking . there is no way in the world that was a red card and if it was any other country that isn't a minnow in world football like Australia the outcry would be enormous.

[Push It]

I was amazed when the Referee displayed the red card
should have been a yellow at worst!!!

[Googes]

Can FIFA turn it in to a yellow when they review the challenge oir FFA has to lodge appeal in within the curtain time frame.

[nicko]

hero to zero!

[kmaau]

It wasn't worth a red, simply should have been yellow.

[Red-4-Life]

very unfortunate for Timmy, and a huge blow for Australia. Kewell is gonna have to step up

[Token]

When you slide tackle from behind and not get the ball, was always going to be red at the time. On replays it shows Timmy trying to pull out to hopefully that will help him in the hearing.

[Russia2O18]

late tackle from behind, whether he tried to pull out or not, can't argue with that red, couldv broken the guy's leg. idiot socceroos need to learn to tackle. their rough reputation has just been reinforced. you cant use physicality as a substitute for skill!

agreed

[Loppermann]

don't think he's got anything to worry about for the Serbia game
shouldn't have even been red, let alone more than a one match ban

[Loppermann]

When you slide tackle from behind and not get the ball, was always going to be red at the time. On replays it shows Timmy trying to pull out to hopefully that will help him in the hearing.

similar tackle on an Australian 10 minutes later didn't even warrant a foul...

[Loppermann]

late tackle from behind, whether he tried to pull out or not, can't argue with that red, couldv broken the guy's leg. idiot socceroos need to learn to tackle. their rough reputation has just been reinforced. you cant use physicality as a substitute for skill!

do you know how much it takes to break someone's leg!?
Schwienstiger won't even have a bruise today
he even told Cahill after the match that it definately wasn't a red

[admin]

Something to cheer up an otherwise disappointing day. Hows this for a harsh red card!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=IYdwQz9 ... re=related

[dj_no.1]

cahills challenge was very stupid, what was he thinking? while i think it was only worth a yellow you cant be surprised it was given a red, he will have no chance of getting that overturned. very dissapointing.

[Outlaw 2.0]

cahills challenge was very stupid, what was he thinking? while i think it was only worth a yellow you cant be surprised it was given a red, he will have no chance of getting that overturned. very dissapointing.

disagree

[Token]

When you slide tackle from behind and not get the ball, was always going to be red at the time. On replays it shows Timmy trying to pull out to hopefully that will help him in the hearing.

similar tackle on an Australian 10 minutes later didn't even warrant a foul...

Just because the ref didn't call a foul on that tackle doesn't makes Timmy's more legal, just mean the ref was incompetent...

[Heaven Up Here]

or didn't see it.

[BADA BING]

don't think he's got anything to worry about for the Serbia game
shouldn't have even been red, let alone more than a one match ban

i have a feeling in wont matter anyway coz by the time we meet Serbia they will be playing just for fun