Tim Cahill has been snubbed by Socceroos coach Bert van Marwijk for the third game in a row.
Australia’s most famous player, 38, will start tonight’s do-or-die World Cup clash with Peru on the bench.
The Socceroos must win and hope France beat Denmark to have a chance of progressing through Group C into the Round of 16.
Tim Cahill (pictured with Daniel Arzani) has been snubbed by Socceroos coach Bert van Marwijk for the third game in a row
Coach Bert van Marwijk (pictured) is under increasing pressure to play Cahill with many asking why he has not taken the field already
‘It is time for Timmy to be unleashed in Russia,’ Kewell (pictured earlier this year) has written
France, who are already through, are resting key players including star midfielder Paul Pogba – but their line-up is still expected to be too strong for Denmark.
Earlier, Australian soccer legend Harry Kewell joined the chorus demanding Cahill play.
Cahill is needed on the field as the Socceroo with the best chance to do damage to Peru, said Kewell.
‘It is time for Timmy to be unleashed in Russia,’ Kewell wrote for News Corp.
‘In this do-or-die game which will be the Socceroos’ hardest of the World Cup, I would consider playing Timmy from the start and perhaps changing the formation by starting with two strikers,’ the former star Socceroo wrote.
‘The thing you’ll get from Timmy is if the balls drops loose inside the box, he’ll pounce.’
Cahill has been on the bench for Australia’s last two matches against France, which they lost 2-1, and against Denmark, in which they drew 1-1.
Coach Bert van Marwijk is under increasing pressure from pundits to play Cahill with many asking why he has not taken the field already.
Kewell also praised 19-year-old Daniel Arzani for his performance so far at the World Cup calling him a natural attacker.
The Melbourne City midfielder is the youngest player to have ever represented the nation at a World Cup and his energy and talent could be exactly what is needed to provide Cahill with opportunities to strike.
Peru national football team players attend a training session at the Adler training ground in Sochi on June 25, 2018
The Australian national team during a training session at Kazan’s Trudovye Rezervy Stadium chosen as their team base camp training site earlier this year
There is some logic behind Cahill’s benching, with the 38-year-old having played relatively little football in the past year for Melbourne City or with English club Millwall.
He is, however, Australia’s greatest ever goal scorer and has been responsible for some of the greatest moments the Socceroos have accomplished on the world stage.
With his experience and proven ability to step up when the nation is in need, the potential is there for him to do something great.
The Socceroos hopes rest on tonight’s game against Peru in the southern Russian city of Sochi.
Australia must win against Peru and Les Bleus must win against Denmark.
If this occurs it will come down to a tally of goals scored to determine whether the Aussies or Denmark accompany France into the Round of 16.
Australia’s coach Bert van Marwijk (centre) attends a training session at the Park Arena in Sochi on June 25, 2018