Tim Cahill knows he can still write his own script, but reckons others will write off his bicycle-kick stunner as a fluke.
Just like they wrote off his screaming volleyed goal at last year's World Cup as a fluke. And just like they keep writing him off.
"I'm not going nowhere, mate," Cahill said after scoring both goals in Australia's 2-0 Asian Cup quarter-final victory against China on Thursday night.
The triumph secures a semi-final slot against the winner of Friday's Japan-United Arab Emirates fixture. Cahill's opening goal instantly entered Socceroos folklore: a perfectly executed overhead scissor-kick.
"It's instinct. The World Cup (goal) was probably a fluke like people are saying, and that is probably a fluke again," he said with a hint of sarcasm.
The 35-year-old then sealed Australia's win with another goal, a trademark header.
"As old as I am, I keep hearing the same story about when I'm going to depart ... after tonight, it will probably be a couple of weeks before they say it again," Cahill said.
Coach Ange Postecoglou suggested the best might yet be to come from Cahill, the Socceroos' all-time leading scorer with 40 goals in 81 games.
"I don't need to add anything to Tim Cahill's career. It's spelt out pretty clearly for everybody ... the best may be ahead of him still," Postecoglou said.
But Cahill reckoned he was just a product of being "in an environment where you're valued as a footballer".
"And I still know I can change games," Cahill said. "I still know I can write my own script and at the same time affect football in a big way in Australia because I have never ever once not believed in the national team jersey."
The buoyant Socceroos later Friday travel to Newcastle, the venue of their semi-final next Tuesday.
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