Daniel Arzani pencilled in to play key World Cup role off the bench, starting with clash against France

BERT van Marwijk looks set to unleash explosive young gun Daniel Arzani in the Socceroos’ opening World Cup clash against France — with the pacy winger pencilled in for a key role.

The Socceroos train at Stadium Trudovye Rezervy in Kazan ahead of their opening World Cup match against France this Saturday. Daniel Arzani arrive for training. Picture: Toby Zerna

WINGER Daniel Arzani’s stunning ascent looks set to continue, with the teenager set for an impact role in the Socceroos’ World Cup opener against France on Saturday.

Arzani, who six months ago was playing youth league games for Melbourne City in front of a few dozen people and had not started a senior professional game, has convinced Bert van Marwijk and his coaching staff of his quality, so much so that he figures centrally in the Dutchman’s strategy against Les Bleus.

TIPS: Our experts pick World Cup winner, golden ball and more

LIVE: Click here to follow all the action as Spain play Portugal

Along with one of the strikers — Tim Cahill, Tomi Juric or Jamie Maclaren and Jackson Irvine if Tom Rogic is preferred in the ‘number 10’ role — Arzani has been pencilled in as a “super sub”.

Listen to News Corp football experts Tom Smithies and David Davutovic preview the Socceroos’ opening World Cup clash with France for Another Football Podcast.

At 19 years and five months, Arzani is the youngest player at the World Cup but not content making the 23, he is determined to play in Russia, starting tonight at Kazan Arena.

“It depends on the way the game pans out, maybe I could get on the field. It just depends on how the gaffer (van Marwijk) is thinking,’’ Arzani said.

“If I get a run out on the field, I would try and make an impact. The thing with me is that I play very risky, so sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.

Daniel Arzani is the youngest member of the Socceroos’ squad. Pic: Getty

“My goal now is to try and get as much game time as possible because there’s so much pressure on everyone, it’s the world stage, it’s the biggest stage for football. Ever, anywhere.

“Given that much pressure you can’t expect too much but I’m just working hard everyday to make a good impression on the coach so that if he does need to make a substitution, I’m in his mind. Doing my best to get as much game time as possible.”

The exciting young Arzani brings an X-factor to van Marwijk’s team. Pic: Getty

Arzani, whose first A-League start was January 9, scored within a minute of coming on against Hungary last week, after making a brief international debut against Czech Republic.