Olyroos identify U23 Asian Cup squad, Nestory Irankunda disregarded

Regardless of Irankunda’s exclusion and the unavailability of some European-based gamers, Vidmar has nonetheless named a comparatively robust Olyroos squad, which options Socceroos Marco Tilio and Mohamed Toure, the Kuol brothers Alou and Garang, and a few in-form A-League expertise in Western Sydney’s Nicolas Milanovic, Macarthur’s Jake Hollman, Central Coast Mariners tyro Jacob Farrell, and Sydney FC’s defensive pairing of Jordan Courtney-Perkins and Jake Girdwood-Reich.

The Olyroos are coming off a powerful efficiency on the West Asian Soccer Federation U23 Championship, a warm-up match in Qatar the place they completed runners-up to South Korea after a penalty shootout, whereas they’ve additionally banked pleasant wins over France and Mexico within the final 12 months.

They’ve been drawn in Group A in Qatar, alongside the hosts, Jordan and Indonesia. However with solely three direct berths for Asian groups accessible, it is going to take a mighty effort for them to fend off the likes of Japan, South Korea and Saudi Arabia to hitch the Matildas on the Olympics.

The dropping semi-finalists on the U23 Asian Cup will go right into a play-off in opposition to a staff from Africa for the final remaining spot in Paris.

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“Every little thing we’ve achieved during the last 12 months has been centered on making ready for the Asian Cup,” Vidmar stated. “We set clear targets and expectations round what we need to obtain in Doha, and I’ve been actually impressed by the best way the group has taken possession of that. There’s a powerful need and perception inside this group that I consider will serve us nicely all through the difficult moments that a global match of this calibre will current.”

Arnold was the coach of the Olyroos over the last cycle as they ended a 12-year drought to qualify for Tokyo 2020, the place they shocked Argentina with a 2-0 win however finally didn’t get out of their group after defeats to Egypt and Spain.

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