The Dutch coach, who led the Netherlands to the 2010 World Cup final, knows Australia well having faced them in qualification for the 2018 tournament as boss of Saudi Arabia.

He led the Saudis to an automatic qualification place above the Socceroos, but says he was "impressed" by the national team.

“I know a lot about the players and how the team has been playing after coaching against them for the two World Cup qualifiers, in 2016 and in June last year.

“I have also been impressed by the national team set-up that the FFA has developed over the past few years.

Van Marwijk also thanked the FFA, and ended with a call-to-arms for the governing body, and Australian football fans as a whole. 

“I want to thank Steven Lowy, David Gallop and (FFA’s Head of National Performance) Luke Casserly for the confidence they have shown in me.

“My response to them has been that we are not going to Russia just to be competitive. I want to win our matches.”