Australia´s Cahill warns against complacency

Australia’s attacking midfielder Tim Cahill warned his teammates on Monday against “complacency and arrogance” ahead of their World Cup qualifier here against Japan.

The Everton player said Wednesday’s game was the hardest they would face on the road to South Africa 2010, and they should take nothing for granted despite sitting top of Asian Group 1.

“Qualification seems a long way away, really, so we cannot get ahead of ourselves,” Cahill said.

“We need to keep our feet firmly on the floor and really concentrate on putting in a good performance. Hopefully, we will get results,” Cahill said.

Australia are unbeaten after three games, two points ahead of Japan in the group, and know a win in Yokohama would put them within reach of a second successive finals appearance.

“I feel that we have prepared well. We feel very excited,” Cahill said after a brief practice, with several of his teammates still on their way to Japan from clubs dotted around Europe.

The Australians will have the psychological edge over Japan after the Socceroos beat them 3-1 at the 2006 World Cup, with Cahill scoring twice late on.

Striker Scott McDonald, fresh from scoring for Scottish outfit Celtic over the weekend, said the pressure was on Japan as the home side.

“I think (Japan feel) they must win this game,” McDonald said. “We feel that we must win as well. If we could do that, we will be one stop closer to the World Cup, and that’s what we really want.”