The Dutchman was introduced to the Australian media after arriving in Sydney on Thursday morning from Amsterdam following his appointment last week.

Van Marwijk conceded his biggest challenge was the short-term nature of his appointment, coming less than 150 days from the Russia event, giving him limited time to get to know the playing group.

However, the ex-Feyenoord and Borussia Dortmund boss said he wouldn't have taken the job if he wasn't confident Australia could reach the last 16.

“When I don’t have confidence in that, I wouldn’t sit here,” van Marwijk said.

“I will not say it again, it will not be easy.

“I already said with Holland also, maybe we don’t have the best players but we can be the best team.”

He added: “I go to the World Cup with only one thing that counts, which is to survive the first round.

“That’s difficult, our opponents are good countries but for me there’s only one thing that counts and that’s the first game (against France).”

Van Marwijk didn’t say he’d dismantle Ange Postecoglou’s approach, but he promised he’d do things his own way, preaching modern transiton football as the key to success.

“I have respect for the former coach but I’ll do it my way,” he said.

“When the players know what to do and trust each other and trust us, you play in a modern way.

France are Australia's first World Cup opponents

“I’m a coach who likes to have the ball and play combination football. But then you have influence on the game.

“In modern football, you also have influence on the game when you don’t have the ball.

“That’s very important. In modern football, it’s only about transition.”

He added: “I’m a realistic coach. I like creative football. I like to have the ball. I also like to win and that’s the most important thing.”

Van Marwijk will watch three A-League games first-hand this weekend before turning his attention to the Socceroos plying their trade abroad.

The 65-year-old studied the Socceroos players in 2018 World Cup qualifying when he was coach of Saudi Arabia for two encounters, but he said a priority was to get to know the players better now in charge.

“It’s important we play in a way that fits the players and also the coach,” he said.

“You cannot play in a way that the players cannot do and when they don’t like the way you want to play. That’s a mistake.

“It’s important for me as soon as possible to get to know the players and their qualities. I have to learn them better.”

Van Marwijk said he hopes to unearth some new players but made no guarantees, nor did he offer up any suggestions of what he feels the team specifically needs just yet.

He also said Tim Cahill’s move to Millwall was “a good signal” but declined to speak individually about the 38-year-old’s World Cup prospects.