HONG KONG: Former Australia coach Pim Verbeek has backed incumbent Bert van Marwijk to make a major impact with the Socceroos at the World Cup finals in Russia despite his fellow Dutchman only taking on the role in late January. The much-travelled Van Marwijk was brought in as a temporary replacement for Ange Postecoglou, who stepped down in November despite securing the country’s qualification for a fourth straight finals. “I think it’s a very good fit because, first of all, Dutch coaches have done well in Australia,” Verbeek told Reuters. It’s a good combination,” added the 62-year-old, who took the Socceroos to the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa. The 66-year-old is a coach Verbeek knows well with Van Marwijk succeeding him as coach at Fortuna Sittard in 1998.

Source: New Strait Times May 29, 2018 10:52 UTC