Cahill in WC squad

SYDNEY: Veteran Tim Cahill was included Monday in Bert van Marwijk’s preliminary Australia squad for the World Cup, keeping him on track for a fourth appearance at the football showpiece.

The 38-year-old is his country’s most prolific international scorer with 50 goals, hitting the back of the net at three previous World Cups. But he has only been a bit player for Millwall since returning to south London in January, and is currently banned for three matches. Despite this Van Marwijk, who was appointed in January following the sudden departure of Ange Postecoglou, knows his experience and talisman-like status among Australian fans could make a difference, describing him as “a special case”. The Dutchman named a 32-man squad, which will need to be cut to 23 by June 3, with highly-rated teenage striker Daniel Arzani included for the first time.

Arzani is also eligible to play for Iran, but appears to be locking in his international future with Australia. Fran Karacic, who plays in Croatia, also got the nod in a line-up that included all the players from the Dutchman’s first squad since taking over, who played two friendlies in March. As well as Arzani and Karacic, Alex Gersbach, Apostolos Giannou, Mitchell Langerak, and Jamie Maclaren were included.