The World Cup has only just begun but already the Australians are planning for the future.

Australia's World Cup soccer team player Kewell shows team mate Cahill his boots during a training session in the southern German town of Oehringen.[Reuters]

Australia's first appearance at a World Cup in 32 years has triggered massive interest in the sport at home and officials are hoping to cash in on the success.

Australia's next major tournament is the 2007 Asian Cup. They have already won their first qualifying group match and are due to play Kuwait and Lebanon later this year.

Most of Australia's World Cup players are unlikely to be involved in the competition because of retirements and commitments to their European clubs, allowing Australia to use the matches to experiment with younger players.

"After this World Cup it's going to be a whole new era. We have probably 10-12 guys retiring and what's coming through has to be seen," assistant coach Graham Arnold told reporters.

"I think that's why there needs a stable decision to be made for the future, someone looking at the big picture and not just at the short-term of where the players are coming from and where they are.

"I think the future is the A-League with Asia. I think a lot of players for the Asian Cup should come from the A-League and expose them to international football, because not many have been so far."

ON LOOKOUT

Australia are also on the lookout for a new head coach after Guus Hiddink announced he would take over the reins at Russia and his Dutch assistant Johan Neeskens accepted a job at Barcelona.

Arnold is also considering an offer to coach Dutch club NAC Breda but said his preference was to remain in Australia. He is contracted to the Football Federation of Australia (FFA) for another two years.

"It's flattering to get a European offer, but my heart is in Australia. I love this job," he said.

FFA chief executive John O'Neill said Arnold would be in charge for the Asian Cup qualifiers but Australia wanted to take their time finding a new head coach.

"What we've got to make sure now is we get the timing and affordability right. That means we've got to wait a few months to get the right person," he told Australian Associated Press.

"We want to get the right person, at the right price at the right time."