World Cup 2018: Tim Cahill never gives up and may not retire from Australia, says Aaron Mooy

Cahill is expected to bring his international career to an end following Australia’s World Cup elimination

Aaron Mooy would not be surprised if Tim Cahill carried on playing for Australia (Getty)

Aaron Mooy believes Australia may not have seen the last of Tim Cahill yet, despite the 38-year-old midfielder’s limited playing time at the World Cup.

Cahill was introduced as a second-half substitute against Peru in Sochi on Tuesday but could not prevent the Socceroos from losing 2-0 and being eliminated from the group stages.

Bert van Marwijk, the Australia head coach, showed a reluctance to use Cahill through the tournament, preferring Mooy, captain Mile Jedinak and Celtic’s Tom Rogic in midfield.

Cahill is expected to bring his international career to an end following Australia’s elimination, but Mooy said he was not aware of his team-mate making a final decision as of yet.

Indeed, the Huddersfield Town midfielder believes that Cahill’s longevity could mean he decides to carry on with the national team.

“I don't know if it's the last time, Timmy never gives up,” Mooy said. “His career's amazing. He's so driven mentally and has so much ability. He's someone I've always looked up to.

“He gave us a bit of a lift [when he came on]. We tried to go a bit more direct but it just wasn't to be.

“Like I said, he hasn't said he wants to retire yet but from my earliest memories watching Australia, Timmy was always playing. To play with him, it's amazing.”

Though Cahill was out-of-favour under Van Marwijk, Australia will enter a new era on their return home when Graham Arnold takes the reins from the Dutchman.

Mooy thinks Australia gave a good account of themselves in Russia. Despite leaving with just a point to their name, they retained a chance of qualifying for the round of 16 right up until the defeat to Peru in their final group game.

“We want to keep getting better as a nation,” he said. “I think we did really well, we've just got to add that last bit to our game. I'm sure we'll be a better side if we do that.”

On the Peru defeat specifically, Mooy added: “I think we were broken a bit because we were 2-0 down, time was running out, we had to score three goals.

“We never gave up. After the first we still thought we could get back into the game and maybe push on again but when it's 2-0 and you have to score three, it takes it out of you. We all gave our very best. Everybody tried their best.”

Jedinak, the Aston Villa midfielder and Australia's skipper, believes his side were undone by bad luck.

"On another day, maybe with a little bit of luck, but that's just been against us a little bit. It wasn't for a lack of effort or lack of trying. The opportunities were there. It just wouldn't go in for us," he said.

"We were not just pushing ourselves for the last two weeks. It's been a journey from three or four years ago. We've been pushing ourselves every single day from that moment and it's come to that point."

Jedinak added: "It's disappointing to go out and to not be able to get that breakthrough we thought we deserved, but that's football that's life and we have to use that, feel that disappointment and use it to fuel us going forward."