Tim Cahill rebuked by Australia manager over reckless tackle

Pim Verbeek, the Australia coach, has criticised Tim Cahill and Vince Grella for a lack of professionalism after both players were guilty of reckless tackles in last night's 2-1 win over New Zealand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The New Zealand manager, Ricki Herbert, was also quick to condemn Cahill, of Everton, and Grella, of Blackburn. He said both players should have been sent off for two tackles on Leo Bertos in the space of three minutes in the first half, which resulted in the winger being carried from the field with a leg injury.

Herbert said Bertos had suffered "bad contact" to his shin as a result of the tackles and will undergo scans to ensure he has not suffered structural damage, before being cleared to play in the World Cup. "I am probably a little disappointed with those tackles and I think in a normal game we would have been up against nine [men]," Herbert said...............read more