Purleeaase.
Did Johnson even pull on the green and gold? Born to South African parents and never received a full cap, he played 2 games at under 21 level for England. The accent is the only thing Aussie about him.
When looking for someone who may usurp the great Cahill (36 caps - 19 goals) on the Aussie team, you have to look a little deeper than the few players who have plied their trade in the Premier League. Remember the Aussies have only been to two world Cups but have been playing for a long time.
In the current side you would look at Kewell (44 caps - 13 goals) but he appeared sparingly for most of his career, and only amassed 10 caps in his first decade of being picked. Schwarzer (72 caps) at 37 years old should have played 100 more games for his stature but had never nailed on a starting spot until his 30's. Brett Emerton (71 caps), Scott Chipperfield (62 Caps), Craig Moore (45 caps), Mark Bresciano (51 caps), Vinnie Grella (44 Caps), and Jason Culina (42 caps) and Lucas Neil (52 caps) have always dug deep and while not always had Cahill's impact have matched his spirit and without them Cahill couldnt do his stuff.
Emerton would be my pick from this bunch, always available for selection, always busting his nut, quiet, proud, and you'll find he covers more meters in a match than any other player on the park. Joined Blackburn despite larger offers so he could play in his natural position, and was missing through suspension from the (our) famous WC defeat to Italy. He would have made the difference I reckon.
You have to look at most capped Alex Tobin, a staunch defender in his day, highest goalscorer Damian Mori (who held the record for the fastest goal in history once). People like Paul Wade, captain for a decade who cried on the day we lost to Argentina for a playoff in the '94 World Cup. (Yes we used to have to beat teams like Argentina to get to the WC). Wadey would have died for that shirt. Players like Frank Farina, Graham Arnold, Tony and Aurelio Vidmar, Ned Zelic, Peter Wilson, Stan Lazaridis, Milan Ivanovic, Ray Baartz, Paul Okon, and the legendary Charlie Yankos (He's my favourate Aussie player ever). All legends to us here down under.
But peoples, there is one name who in this country stands head and shoulders above the rest.
That name is Johnny Warren. You've probably never heard of Warren, but he was the ultimate leader of men. Leading us Aussies to our first WC in '74 he was the man men wanted to be. A central midfield hardman with a soft touch. He battled his way around pitches like a man possessed. And when all was said and done on his career he kept on battling. Off the pitch he steamrolled into governing bodies like a man on a mission to ut Aussie football where e felt it should be. He tackled racism from our community and promoted the pure ethos of the game until every one listened, and the game developed.
He lost his battle with cancer in 2004, a few months before his beloved Socceroos made it back the World Cup. Some say Warren had to give up his life to get us back on the World stage. He didnt give up without a fight, but when he did, he taught us to grab it, and never let go.
RIP, a football legend, Johnny Warren.
