Bert van Marwijk SocceroosGetty

Bert van Marwijk praises 'motivated' Socceroos

Time may be against new Socceroos coach Bert van Marwijk in his quest to get Australia ready for the World Cup, but the players certainly appear to be doing their bit.

After naming a preliminary 26-man squad earlier this week, the Dutchman is preparing for an intensive pre-World Cup camp during which he'll need to cut a further three players from his squad.

Having already overseen two friendlies against Norway and Colombia, van Marwijk's early impressions of his side are positive with the World Cup in Russia less than a month away.

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"They are motivated with a good mentality," Van Marwijk told FIFA.com.

"They are good listeners. My impression of the players was good from the first day.

"The ten days together [in March] was very good and useful for us, and I was satisfied with how we played in the first half against Colombia [0-0 draw]."

Bert Van Marwijk SocceroosGetty Images

With two friendlies against Czech Republic and Hungary looming, the Socceroos coach has stressed the importance of finding the right system and not on his own abilities as a coach. 

"I will not bring something out of the team," he said.

"The challenge is to find a system which fits the players, and it is even better when it fits the coach too."

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