Australia football team head coach Graham Arnold said that he will be using the next friendly game against South Korea to try some new players. He said that this will be a great opportunity for him to test the depth of the squad and to try some new things in the team.

Graham Arnold said that the objective of the Australian team is to make it to the 2022 World Cup and for that they have to go through the qualifiers that will be starting soon.

Australia were not supposed to win their first match of the World Cup 2018, and they did fall to France. However, they performed admirably in that tournament opener, and look like they may be able to threaten the other two teams in Group C. With a huge match against Denmark coming up, can Australia get over the hump and deliver some much-needed points to their campaign?

Before focusing on Denmark, it is worth pointing out just how good Australia were against France. They were victims of two different Video Assistant Referee calls, both of which benefited the French.

Despite having to go through two unwanted playoff rounds to secure their place in Russia this summer, Australia fans can have high hopes going into group stage action.

The Socceroos feared the worst after they were placed in pot 4 for the group stage draw but they will fancy their chances of matching their best ever performance in 2006 when they reached the round of 16 following the draw. Pitted against France, Peru and Denmark in Group C, Bert van Marwijk’s men will have their sights firmly set on progression to the last 16 and beyond.

Australia became the 31st country to secure their spot at this summer's 2018 World Cup in Russia when they overcame Honduras 3-1 in their intercontinental play-off tie.

That victory also saw them finish as the Asia best third-placed nation and cement their position on Russian territory, where they have now been thrust into a tough and testing group stage. Within a challenging Group C, the Aussies are set to compete against three solid sides, as they prepare to do battle with all of Euro 2016's hosts and finalists France, South American outfit Peru and European contenders Denmark.

Not many nations who qualify for a World Cup will see their coach resign just a week after the qualification is achieved but this was the case for Australia. Just one week after the Socceroos beat Honduras to secure their place in Russia 2018, their coach of the last four years, Ange Postecoglou, left his post citing the pressures of international management as a huge contributing factor.

He cut an emotional figure during his press conference and had clearly put a lot of thought into the decision but ultimately the role had taken its toll on the coach “both personally and professionally”. The Greek-Australian had been in charge of the Socceroos since October 2013 after the sacking of previous manager Holger Osiek following successive 6-0 defeats to both Brazil and France.

Australia haven’t had everything their own way so far in the qualification stage for the 2018 World Cup but Ange Postecoglou’s men can take a giant step in the next few months. Wins against Iraq and the United Arab Emirates should see the Socceroos take firm control in the race for Russia.

With five qualifying fixtures remaining, six points could prove crucial come the end of the preliminary round. It would be foolish for Postecoglou and co to underestimate both sides but the Socceroos will be confident of victory; especially as they have defeated Iraq and the UAE already in this competition.