Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Oslo: Winger Mathew Leckie has embraced the encouraging early evidence of new coach Bert van Marwijk's plans for the Socceroos.
In his first camp in charge, Van Marwijk has laid the foundations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 campaign by urging the use of quick, crisp passing.
The Dutchman's approach has made a positive impression on Leckie, who is in line to win his 50th cap when Australia meet Norway in a friendly at the Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo on Friday.
"His history shows he's a great coach," Leckie said.
"He's been here and he knows how it is. Just the couple of meetings we've had have been really convincing.
"He wants to move the ball quickly and play fast. We'll look more over that in the next few days but I think he really wants to play the modern way.
"The more we do, the better we'll get at it. He hasn't really cemented the formation we'll play but we trained the 4-2-3-1 yesterday."
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Oslo: Australia full-back Aziz Behich is taking career-best form into what he hopes will be back-to-back wins at the beginning of Bert van Marwijk's tenure.
Australia's 26-man squad have assembled in Oslo ahead of Van Marwijk's first match in charge against Norway on Friday.
The friendly is followed by a meeting with 13th-ranked Colombia in London next week and Behich is eager to establish a winning mindset in both matches.
"I think they're going to be a great test for us and I think we're going to be in good shape leading into the World Cup," Behich told
"We're going to go into each game to win. That's why we play.
"We've got a good group, I think all the boys are playing at high levels, and there's no reason why we can't get the job done in these two games."
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Oslo: Socceroos right-back Josh Risdon is braced for an intense training standard as he seeks to realise his boyhood dream of FIFA World Cup selection.
Risdon is in contention to add to his five international caps when Australia take on Norway in Oslo on Friday in what is Bert van Marwijk's first match in charge.
The Western Sydney Wanderers defender expects a lively atmosphere in the lead-up to the friendly as each member of the 26-man squad strives to impress the new boss.
"It's going to be competitive this week in training," Risdon told socceroos.com.au.
"Everyone is going to want to play these two games to make a good first impression.
"That's good for the team. Training will be sharp and get us ready for the games."
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Incheon: Korea Republic football coach Shin Tae-yong said on Monday he plans to use in-form Tottenham Hotspur attacker Son Heung-min in a two striker system but will try to have various attacking options at the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018.
Son is one of the 23 players that were selected for Korea Republic's upcoming World Cup tune-up matches in Europe.
Korea Republic, ranked 59th in the latest FIFA rankings, will take on No. 24 Northern Ireland at Windsor Park in Belfast on Saturday and face No. 6 Poland three days later at Slaski Stadium in Chorzow, Poland.
Son has so far netted 18 goals this season for Spurs, with 12 of them in the English Premier League. The 25-year-old is certain to represent Korea Republic at the World Cup in Russia.
Son mainly plays for his London club as a left wing forward, but Shin said he first plans to use the former Bayer Leverkusen man as one of the two strikers up front.