Socceroos learn how new boss Bert van Marwijk wants them to play

IT lasted barely 20 minutes but Bert van Marwijk’s first meeting with the Socceroos players revealed exactly what he wants them to stand for in Russia.

Dutchman Bert van Marwijk is unveiled as the new Socceroos head coach at a press conference in Sydney with FFA Chairman Stephen Lowy and CEO David Gallop. Picture: Toby Zerna

IT lasted barely 20 minutes but Bert van Marwijk’s first meeting with the Socceroos players revealed exactly what he wants them to stand for in Russia.

The ex-Holland and Saudi Arabia coach waited for the entire 26-man squad to arrive before summoning the group, after dinner at their team hotel on Monday night Norway time.

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And in the meeting room of their Oslo hotel van Marwijk, who’s more a tactician than a motivator, outlined his overarching vision for the Socceroos.

Discipline, team spirit, work ethic and punctuality were all outlined during his pointed opening address attended only by the players and coaching staff.

The rest of van Marwijk’s messages are exclusive to the training ground, where his key messages and drills have centred around passing — pace, quality, passes with messages and “trusting your teammates”.

He knows it’s a short tenure but it’s just as vital for him as it is Australian soccer for van Marwijk, who turns 66 in May, knows it could be his last FIFA World Cup.

Ange Postecoglou brought pride back into the Socceroos shirt after a culture of complacency crept in. Van Marwijk doesn’t profess to be an Australian soccer anorak, but there are many shared traits on and off the pitch.

“I will try to know them better and tell them something about my plans. I can also do that in the meeting room, and I will do that. But really (training) things we don’t have the time.

“My experience is also that it’s not good to tell your whole vision in 30 minutes, it’s not good for the players. It takes time, but it’s the situation, I cannot change it.

“It’s very important to get to know the players.”

Players and officials are naturally walking on eggshells while they work out where they stand with the 2010 World Cup finalist.

But the atmosphere is not as tense as some would have you think on or off the pitch, with van Marwijk showing his lighter side in his first session

Millwall left-back James Meredith took us into the meeting and onto the training pitch.

“It (the first session) was enjoyable, having a laugh, a good atmosphere, he was making some jokes, there were a few nervous laughs,’’ Meredith said.

“I like the values he’s bringing across. He wants a good team spirit, wants no negativity and everyone to work hard for each other, I’ve got similar values.

“After training he explained about himself and his staff, what he wanted and how he wanted to play. But he also talked about the culture he wanted to bring and how he wanted the players to behave — the standards he wants to bring.

New Socceroo head coach Bert van Marwijk.

“He wants positivity, no bad eggs, he wants players to work hard, enjoy themselves and be friends as well. General professionalism, be on time, be early, that kind of thing.”

Feyenoord keeper Brad Jones said he was held in high regard in his native Holland.

“I have only been around him briefly but I do know players that have worked with him. (Robin) van Persie and Dirk Kuyt were with him in 2010, (Feyenoord coach Giovanni) van Bronkhorst knows him really well,’’ Jones said.

“Even our kitman was the kitman for Holland and no one has a bad word to say about him. People like the kitman, you know they are colourful people, and if he says someone is a good guy you know they are.

“Everyone is positive, they said he was a top guy. Boys that played under him said you have done well to get him, that he is a very good coach.

“It was from the club secretary down. Everyone knows him. He has worked there before, but just from being around Dutch football, everyone tends to know everyone, but no-one had a bad word for him.”

With only 23 players going to Russia and a few more players knocking on the door from outside this squad, there’s bound to be a few cynics.

But thus far van Marwijk has made a strong impression on and off the pitch.