Arnold lays out blueprint for WC success

Dec 8, 2017 - 6:06 AM Graham Arnold hasn't been approached about the vacant Socceroos job and and probably won't apply if he isn't.

But in what could double as an audition for the post, the Sydney FC coach has laid out his blueprint for World Cup success, declaring that a win-at-all-costs mentality must prevail.

Arnold is the local favourite - amid a crowd of overseas names - to be appointed Ange Postecoglou's successor and lead Australia to Russia next year.

But while the 54-year-old is understood to be interested in a second, more mature stab at international coaching, he's contracted to Sydney and intent on letting Football Federation Australia's newly-appointed panel of experts come to him.

"Zero," Arnold said when asked if he'd been contacted.

"And I don't know if it's applications but at the end of the day I'm doing my job here at Sydney and my main focus is winning with Sydney.

"I have a contract here and I respect that."

Arnold supported the inclusion of former Socceroos Mark Bresciano, Stan Lazaridis and Mark Schwarzer to the nine-person panel tasked with selecting the next Socceroos coach by mid-February.

The group, also featuring Socceroos assistant coach Ante Milicic, must decide whether to continue Postecoglou's staunchly attack-minded legacy or pursue a more pragmatic approach in aiming to progress from a group with France, Denmark and Peru.

The latter fits the style Arnold used to take Sydney to last season's record-breaking A-League title.

And he was unapologetic about what it would take to succeed in what he felt was the best draw Australia have been dealt.

"Winning," Arnold said. "It's about winning. International football is winning, everyone wants to win.

"Best chance is beating France first game. Playing with style to win, whatever that is.

"Whoever the coach is needs to expect to win every game when they go there and they need to go to the World Cup expecting to win the World Cup, not just go there to try to play well.

"That's the purpose of going, otherwise you may as well not turn up."

Chief executive David Gallop says FFA's preference is for another Australian coach but no one will be ruled out, with both short- and long-term contracts an option.

Former England manager Sven Goran Eriksson is the latest foreigner to flag interest. Others linked to the job include Marcelo Bielsa, Jurgen Klinsmann, Gianni De Biasi, Slavoljub Muslin, Christoph Daum and Guus Hiddink.

Source: AAP