After the departure of Ange Postecoglou three months ago, FFA finally appointed his successor with today’s announcement of Van Marwijk as Socceroos coach.

The 65-year-old is the third Dutch coach to lead the Australian national team at a World Cup, following Gus Hiddink at Germany 2006 and Pim Verbeek at South Africa 2010.

Rasic believes FFA are hoping that Van Marwijk will be able to follow Hiddink’s success, where he guided Australia past the group stages for the first time.

“Let’s hope the Dutch can create a second miracle,” he said.

“That’s nothing to say against Bert Van Marwijk because I don’t know the man. He is a reputable coach and an intelligent man.

"He coached Holland to the final of the World Cup so there is nothing you can dispute when it comes to his record as coach.

“But to me the FFA has a psychological belief around the success of Gus Hiddink and keeping the Dutch formula. The FFA is religiously bound to that and I hope that it will work a miracle.

“I knew it would be a Dutch coach. The birds knew it was going to be Dutch. The birds were coming to my place and circling around my house saying, ‘Dutch coach, Dutch coach, let’s not waste the money [on Roberto Mancini].”

Photo: Steve Dimitriadis

While Rasic believes Australia can do well in Russia, he feels the governing body let the Socceroos down due to how long it took to get a replacement for Postecoglou, who resigned on November 21 last year.

“I feel sympathy towards the players because they have been put in an extremely difficult situation and that is unfair as far as I’m concerned,” he said.

“It’s unfair to the players that we have been searching for a coach for four months before a World Cup.

"The FFA has to answer for that and they have shown an absolute lack of respect for the game. They are answerable and responsible for this situation.”

Rasic also feels Van Marwijk’s appointment is the antithesis of Postecoglou, whose attacking style of play produced several critics during the end of his tenure.

“The Dutch have organisation,” he said. “You cannot underestimate the Dutch and their knowledge of the game.

“But Australia has done well internationally in the past and achieved some extraordinary results and is not a bunny in this regard.

“It wasn’t through playing a system but a desire to win and a never-say-die attitude, which is unique. Some nations work for four years to get this attitude and Australians are born with this.  

“As I said Van Marwijk is not a bad coach, he has a reputable record and I can’t wish him anything but well.”