Speaking on Fox Sports just moments after Cahill destroyed Japan with two goals to help the Socceroos win 2-1 and top AFC Group A World Cup qualifying group, a fired up Bozza went on the attack.

Without naming names, he said generating false tabloid headlines about Cahill was "un-Australian and wrong" and he called those involved "scum". He also described such critics as the "enemy within".

Last week, Sydney's Daily Telegraph ran a front page story claiming Cahill was asked to leave a bar in Kings Cross in the early hours of the morning following the Australian Football Awards due to him being drunk and disorderly.

The FFA investigated and found he had no case to answer and no charges were laid. The newspaper claims were denied, not only by Cahill and his team-mates, but also by the nightclub and police.

The Telegraph itself was unable to find a single named witness to substantiate their melodramatic allegations. Bozza also hinted the source of the stories may have been rivals, acting out of jealousy over Cahill's success.

Earlier in the week, the same newspaper published a rant written by its sports editor claiming Pim Verbeek was holding back the game of football for not providing a player to be interviewed the day before the Bahrain World Cup qualifier.

It launched its petty vendetta against the Socceroos after Verbeek refused to allow a jet-lagged Harry Kewell to take part in a photoshoot on Sydney Harbour Bridge, arranged by the paper at  the very last moment.

The paper then blamed Verbeek for the turnout of just under 40,000 at ANZ Stadium.

The Daily Telegraph, owned by News Limited, is a long-time financial supporter of the National Rugby League.

Following last night's Japan game, in apparent reaction to the media, Cahill gave a brief post-match interview and  ignored questions asked by Fox Sports before walking off to celebrate with his team-mates.

The Telegraph resumed their astonishing attack on the national hero today, petulantly trying to claim he had let fans down, despite winning yet another game for Australia.

But Cahill had paid heartfelt tribute to the supporters when he was interviewed by Fox Sports presenter Mel McLaughlin on the pitchside, and gestured to the 70,000 crowd with the heart sign when he scored his two goals at the MCG.

"I'd just like to thank the crowd, the lads, a great turnout in Melbourne. I'm so proud to be here, so proud to play tonight so I think the credit just goes to the crowd, you were brilliant," he said.

He added: "I just want to thank the crowd. I enjoyed the game, great Japan team. This is a step forward for us, it's great to finish top of the group. Again thank you so much to the crowd, thank you."

But the increasingly desperate Telegraph insisted he had delivered a "serving of sour grapes" and had "let down" fans. Once again, there were no quotes to back up their claims.