Cahill's Socceroos retirement a family decision, eyes coaching career
Tim Cahill was calm and collected for the majority of a press conference to discuss his retirement from the Socceroos, but was reduced to tears when discussing the impact of his family, and how he told his children that he was hanging up the boots for the national team.
A family barbecue while on holidays in the Maldives was the setting the 38-year-old chose to break the news to his children.
"They took it really well," said Cahill, who resisted the temptation to push on with Graham Arnold's Socceroos until next year's Asian Cup.
"It's the right time. I can pass the baton on to the guys going to the Asian Cup. Arnie can prepare. I can be there for the boys - I was pretty much doing that in [the World Cup] camp."
Australia's all-time leading scorer didn't rule out a return to club football, labelling his time with Melbourne City as "fantastic", and also said he was keen to move into coaching in the future.
"I've had a few conversations with Arnie, DG [Football Federation Australia chief David Gallop] and the FFA ... I'm always someone that keeps my cards close to my chest.
"I'm interested in coaching ... I'll fly to the UK and start my UEFA B License, just in preparation - then I'll open the door for offers to play football.
"I've not really entertained anyone when it comes to football - I've been selfish enough, finally, to have some serious family time."
Where that potential club football lies remains to be seen, but in addition to European coaching badges, Cahill spoke about living in America (he previously played for New York Red Bulls in the MLS) - and conceded that to play football in his homeland while being based overseas would be "impossible".
It seems most likely that his future in Australian domestic football will be in an ambassadorial role, rather than in a team's colours.
"I'm not connected to any A-League groups, but what I am connected to is the FFA and the Socceroos, where my support will be with whatever they need," Cahill said.
While many fans and pundits were flabbergasted at Cahill's lack of game time in the 2018 World Cup, the man himself remained upbeat about his experiences under Bert van Marwijk.
"When you're 38 years old and you've already been in three World Cups ... one thing I've learned, especially when you play for your country is 'I'm there for my country'," Cahill said.
"I'm in camp, all I care about is making sure that it's about the team, and about my teammates."
The veteran said he didn't miss a single training session in Russia or in the Socceroos' pre-tournament camp in Turkey.
"I knew I'd get my time, and that's what I was preparing for in those 44 days," he said.
"Obviously a lot of people would have liked to see me play more, but for me, it was an honour to be a part of a fourth World Cup campaign. A player has to think a lot bigger than himself personally, regardless of his situation."
In a squad full of young attackers, Cahill was full of praise for the likes of Andrew Nabbout, Daniel Arzani, Jamie Maclaren and Tomi Juric, saying he was careful to spend some time with each of them individually in Russia to provide advice.
"That's the mentoring side for me, that I really enjoy. I'm still in touch with a lot of them ... it will hit home the next camp, not being there," he said.
In a glittering international career that began in 2004, Cahill found the net for Australia 50 times, becoming one of only 61 male footballers ever to crack the half century.