Bolter Arzani gets his chance

WUNDERKIND Daniel Arzani says his preliminary Socceroos selection won’t mean anything unless he makes the final World Cup cut.

And the man double his age appears Russia-bound, with Tim Cahill labelled a “special case” by Socceroos boss Bert van Marwijk.

Arzani has made just 15 ALeague starts and only made his senior debut on January 9, but he’s confident of convincing van Marwijk of his World Cup worth if he’s selected for the pre-camp in Turkey.

Van Marwijk has spoken to the likes of John van ’t Schip, who handed Arzani his first run out with Melbourne City last season, and hinted strongly that he was considering the teen for a Russian impact role.

Arzani, 19, declared that he was determined to make it to Russia 2018.

“I’m really happy, I’m stoked. But making the 32 doesn’t really mean that much if you don’t make the 26,’’ he said.

“It’s just the beginning, hopefully I get into the 26 and, from there, the 23. I feel like I give myself a big chance to make the 23 if I do make the 26. I’m just focused on that right now.

“It was always going to be an uphill thing, I’ve got to go in there and prove my worth as a young player. If I make the Turkey cut, I think I can do that.

“For me, it’s just the same as it was before. I wasn’t expecting to be given an upper hand, I have to go in there and prove something and that’s what I’ll try and do.

“Really happy with the way things worked out and to finally get my chance. It was bittersweet with the way we got knocked out of the finals.”

Arzani started training with Socceroos sports science chief Craig Duncan yesterday after a week off along with Western Sydney right-back Josh Risdon.

Van Marwijk said Iran’s interest in Arzani — where he was born — played no part in his selection and he was intrigued by the winger’s X-factor, revealing that he had done “extra research” on the boy wonder.

“He [Arzani] has to learn a lot but he is a player who can make the difference and I like players who can make a difference,’’ van Marwijk said.

“Maybe a world championships is too early for him, but I will not hesitate when I think he can mean something for us and make a difference, maybe in the last 10-15 minutes, I will not hesitate to pick him.

“I really don’t know [the situation with Iran] exactly, but nobody told me not to nominate him because of this.”