Bert van Marwijk gave his reaction to Dutch press upon his appointment as national team manager of Australia for this summer’s World Cup in Russia.

  • By James Rowe
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Van Marwijk stated his ambition to guide Australia past the group phase and into the last 16. Australia are in a group with France, Peru and Denmark.

He said, ”I am delighted with this appointment and the amount of time I have before the World Cup in Russia only serves to make this challenge bigger.

”As Saudi Arabia manager I have recently played two matches against Australia and I know the team well. They are real professionals that are open and direct and I like that because I am the same.

”I will only have the players once before we begin our preparation for Russia 2018 in May. The Australian players play all over the world mostly in Europe.

”When you go to a World Cup regardless of what country you are managing you want to survive the first round and reach the last 16 and that is my goal although it will be difficult.

”I will be a taking backroom staff of Mark van Bommel, Roel Coumans and Taco van den Velde to Australian national team with me because they are people I know very well and they are people that I trust.”




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