Dick Advocaat to coach Socceroos

It is speculated that former KNVB manager Dick Advocaat is going to replace Graham Arnold as Australia's national team coach. West Ham captain Lucas Neill believes that the deal is almost done, and only regrets that Australia won't be playing until February.

"I think the coach is pretty much named, apart from a few little contractual issues. That's the story we're getting, so I guess there could be an announcement soon.

"It's just a shame that there are no games for a while, so the hard part is going to be getting together with a clean slate."

The former PSV Eindhoven and Rangers coach is currently serving as the manager of FC Zenit St. Petersburg, where he is contract-bound until the end of the Russian league in November. Advocaat, who took Holland to the quarter finals of Euro 2004, is expected to do a great job with the Socceroos, and his pedigree says that he will be able to do so.

Maybe with Advocaat's help the Australians will begin playing 1-touch possession football like the Dutch.