Typically, home and country is never far from the heart of perhaps the greatest soccer player this country has produced and it was on show yesterday when he opened up to The Australian on the eve of the World Cup qualifier against Japan at Suncorp Stadium tonight.
It's been a tough period for the Everton star, who has clearly been frustrated by recent reports he is at the crossroads of his fabulous international career.
His mystifying absence during the 0-0 draw with Oman on Friday has also raised more than a few eyebrows. As the Australians struggled to break through the resolute Oman defence, the potent goalscorer and proven match-winner sat patiently on the bench, having again been left out of the starting line-up.
National coach Holger Osieck has a way of playing the game that some critics believe doesn't suit Cahill's style. However, there is an argument that a player of his class can fit in to any system and that you do all you can to fit him in within the framework. It's a situation that would have been unheard of 18 months ago, but you won't hear a word of complaint from this professional footballer.
"For me, it's all about supporting the team and the manager (Holger Osieck)," Cahill said. "As a player I need to make sure I am fit. For me it's all about preparation.
"Some of my best moments have been when I have come off the bench as a Socceroo. I just support the team. Regardless of whether I play or don't . . . it's not about me. It's about the Socceroos.
"What I am saying is if the manager picks me I play, if he doesn't pick me then I don't have the power to do anything about it. It is pretty simple.
"But that is not an issue. The main thing is I am a team player. His decision is final."
However, Cahill, 32, bristles when the subject of his longevity is questioned.
"I am bored with those stories," he says with a sigh. "People should be supporting and promoting the game, the positives, not going backwards and sideways. I don't understand why it is happening. Do people want me out of the game? Do they want me to retire?
"For goodness sakes, I still have another two years left on my contract with Everton. I still have clubs chasing me. I played the majority of games this season. I played in all the biggest games, which is what you want to do as a footballer.
"I love to think I am helping fly the flag for young kids in Australia, to watch me playing in one of the biggest leagues (English Premier League) in the world. That's got to be a huge positive."
Such is the demand for Cahill that England's Daily Mirror reported last week that a club in Saudi Arabia is making a huge bid to lure him, offering a staggering $16 million for a three-year deal -- the sort of money few players would contemplate turning their back on.
While reluctant to go into great depth about the offer, Cahill, who is one of Everton's longest serving players (278 games and 68 goals), says he is happy at the club.
"Of course, it is a compliment when you get offers," he said. "But I've never invited offers because of my massive respect for Everton. The gaffer (David Moyes) and the chairman have been wonderful to me. Look, as a player you try and pick what is best for you and your family. At the moment I am more than happy."
In the meantime, Cahill rates tonight's match against Japan as "massive".
"I am very impressed with Japan, with what they have done over the last two or three years," Cahill said. "They have developed a real killer instinct and could compete with any team in Europe.
"They have players a lot of clubs are talking about. They have attacking flair and style and their finishing has improved so much.
"They are so dangerous, as we have seen in their last two games.
"But we have a great squad, too. There is a lot of heart and desire with us. This game is a big moment for us. We definitely don't want to finish this two-game campaign with just one point."
Cahill admits Australian soccer can learn a lot from Japan which now has the best structures in place that will see it continue to be a huge force in Asian football.
"We can do things a lot better," Cahill said. "The grassroots level is our biggest struggle and I believe more can be done to develop the game at that level.
"It's difficult, especially when your league (A-League) loses teams like Gold Coast and then expects a new club to be formed in just five months.
"That's where you have to question the structure and business model and whether it works."
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