With just under two months before he can assemble his team, the Dutchman is critically aware that time is not on his side.

In his first weekend in Australia, the 65-year-old took in some A-League games and ran the rule over the domestic product, some of whom will no doubt feature in his World Cup plans. 

Taking in an A-League game on the weekend

But speaking to Fox Sports A-League Hour on Monday night, the national team coach was also accutely conscious of the enormous task ahead since taking over the reins from Ange Postecoglou.

"The most important thing for me now is to get to learn the players and see them and that’s not easy because we don’t have a lot of time," he said.

"It’s only seven weeks before our first friendly in Oslo against Norway and in seven weeks I want to see all the players as far as possible.

"I’m happy that I saw here already four games. That was interesting for me. I saw a few interesting players."

After leading Saudi Arabia to automatic World Cup qualification, van Marwijk already has some idea of the type of men he call on.

"When you see (the Socceroos) on the pitch they give you already the feeling that they like to play football…I knew the mentality very well, you have a strong sports culture, and strong – physically strong (players).

"Things that are important in football speed, creativity…I think you can play football."

He added: "For me the most important thing is to create a really good team. Because my experience also at the World Cup 2010 and 2002 finals when (Feyenoord) won the European Cup is that we didn’t have the best players but we had the best team.

"The (UEFA Cup team) was a really good team. A grown up team. They were not afraid of anybody, and they showed it also. They didn’t say it but the body language was there."

As for his football philosphy: "Players must understand how you want to play. It must also fit the players and they must be capable to do what you want. And the best situation is that it also fits the coach.

"I like to play in a way that is a little bit flexible. I’m not a coach who says we can play four, five, six systems. I always say the coach can play so many systems but not the players. It is very difficult to let a team play in a certain way that they can trust each other, that they exactly know what to do.

"But within the way of playing you must be flexible. That’s easy to say but in practice it’s very difficult. And then of course time. But I realise that we don’t have time…

"Now seven weeks to watch all the players as much as possible and then we have two games. We can hardly train. So really the preparation starts in May when we can train every day."

As a man manager, van Marwijk said he keeps his distance, makes the tough calls but can also "laugh with the players".

Most importantly for a coach taking on a new team just four months out from football's global showpiece - show no fear. 

"You must not be afraid of the press, for the results, from what everybody says. You have to have your own idea and go on with that, believe in that and you have to convince the players to think the same way."