Socceroos closing in

FORMER Manchester United and Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal is making a pitch for the Socceroos job this week as formal interviews to replace Ange Postecoglou begin in Europe.

Both van Gaal and his predecessor in the Dutch role, Bert van Marwijk, are meeting FFA boss David Gallop and head of national teams Luke Casserly in interviews in Amsterdam, after the Aussie pair flew to Holland on Sunday.

Gallop and Casserly will also seek talks with Roberto Mancini, though he is under contract at Zenit St Petersburg.