Cahill to lead Australia in Greece return

Melbourne (AFP) – Talisman Tim Cahill will take over the captain’s armband in the absence of Mile Jedinak as Australia seek to sweep their two-match series against Greece in Melbourne on Tuesday.

Cahill, 36, the former Everton star now playing for Hangzhou Greentown in China, is lining up for his 91st international appearance and has scored 47 goals.

Crystal Palace midfielder Jedinak, who played in the Socceroos’ 1-0 win over Greece in Sydney on Saturday, has been released from camp for personal reasons.

Cahill, who came on as a second half substitute in Sydney, had a goal disallowed just before Germany-based substitute Mathew Leckie scored the winner with the last kick of the game in stoppage time.

Coach Ange Postecoglou is expected to make team changes, with Celtic midfielder Tom Rogic likely to get more game time in Melbourne.

“We’ll make some changes tomorrow night, but again they’re changes designed to maximise performance,” Postecoglou told reporters Monday.

“It’s not about just giving everyone a go or compromising competitiveness, we’ll put out a line-up tomorrow night that we think will give us the best chance of success.” 

PAOK midfielder Alexandros Tziolis is expected to come into the Greece side after missing out in Sydney, while Stefanos Kapino is likely to start in goal after Orestis Karnezis was taken to hospital following a mid-air collision with Jedinak.

The last time Australia played Greece in Melbourne the Socceroos won 1-0 in front of 95,000 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, shortly before leaving for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.