\u201cAs you can see after round two, I\u2019ll have to select a 55-man squad.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut all of the players are looking in good shape, I\u2019ve been out and watched pretty much every team live in two weeks.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe younger players are really stepping up and giving me something to think about.\u201d<\/p>\n
After naming his extended squad, Arnold will need to finalise a 26-man group no later than 14 November as players jostle for those still up for a small number of positions still up for grabs.<\/p>\n
One name who has roared into contention is Macarthur attacker Daniel Arzani, with the 23-year-old famously featuring in the 2018 World Cup as a teenager.<\/p>\n
With injury and form issues cruelling the last few years of Arzani\u2019s career, Arnold admitted that his recent improvement has him in calculations but that he\u2019s simply one of a group of players that are vying for an impact role off the bench.<\/p>\n
\u201cI watched him obviously in the Australia Cup, he came off in the 70th minute against Sydney United in the final, he had a good impact in that game,\u201d Arnold said.<\/p>\n
\u201cFirst round against Brisbane, even Dwight Yorke came out and said that wasn\u2019t good enough, his performance, to be selected for the Socceroos.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut the other day against Adelaide he showed good calmness with the finish and had a good assist and that\u2019s Daniel, it\u2019s not like I don\u2019t know him, I coached him with the Olympic team, and I know exactly what his strengths and weaknesses are.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut Dwight seems to be getting the best out of him, which is great, but the funny thing is when we talk about an impact player in Australia it seems like we\u2019ve got to talk about a 21-year-old or under.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut there\u2019s also some good older impact players as well and I\u2019m watching them very carefully, those types of players are scoring goals and doing good things as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about getting the right player and making sure that with that type of role as an impact player – and you\u2019re right, we do need that – that they can come on and change a game for us.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Another young player that\u2019s fighting for a spot in the final squad is Melbourne City\u2019s Marco Tilio.<\/p>\n As Tilio has played just 20 minutes in City\u2019s opening two games, Arnold was asked whether the 21-year-old\u2019s lack of game time could impact his selection hopes.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously, Marco is not playing much at the moment, he\u2019s hardly had any game time at all,\u201d Arnold said.<\/p>\n \u201cThat could impact his selection, but I know what Marco can do and I know he\u2019s always working hard, and I\u2019ve spoken to him a couple of times to see how he is mentally.<\/p>\n \u201cAll I can do is keep watching and make sure that when we do go to this World Cup, we\u2019ve got the players that are fit enough and ready enough to back up every three days and be there for their performance.\u201d<\/p>\n Australia has been placed in Group D alongside France, Tunisia and Denmark for the World Cup.<\/p>\n The Socceroos\u2019 opening game comes against the French on Wednesday, 23 November.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/10\/20211208001604591103-original-for-web-600x380.jpg\")