Olyroos captaincy candidate Jade North believes Australia can win a medal in Beijing and will have a more positive attitude than they did four years ago.
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Newcastle Jets defender North, Sheffield United midfielder David Carney and striker Archie Thompson are the over-age players in the 18-man squad announced today by coach Graham Arnold.
Arnold said he had canvassed around 15 players for the three over-23 spots.
He said most were unavailable because they were moving clubs or for personal reasons and revealed veteran striker Harry Kewell had been in the selection mix “all the way right up until the death”.
Arnold described as “honourable” Kewell’s decision not to commit to the Olympic campaign because he was afraid he might have to pull out beforehand due to his commitments to his new club, Turkish champions Galatasaray.
“It’s not easy for him as soon as he signs for a new club to ask for four weeks to go to the Olympics,” Arnold said.
He revealed Carney, who has frequently been used as a wing back for the Socceroos, would play in a more attacking left-sided role for the Olympic side.
Arnold also revealed North, who played in the Olyroos team which finished seventh in Athens in 2004, was an “obvious” candidate for the captaincy, but said he wouldn’t appoint a skipper until the squad arrived in Beijing.
Defender Mark Milligan, who captained the Olyroos through the majority of their qualifying campaign, was diplomatic about the possibility of an over-age player being named team leader.
Milligan, who was suspended for two matches of a lead-up tournament in Malaysia for missing an Olyroos training camp, said he wouldn’t regard it as unfair if an over-age player was appointed skipper.
North, who recently became the first indigenous player to captain the Socceroos, was confident Australia would perform better than at Athens.
“The last Olympics, I thought we were happy to be there, whereas this time we can probably go and win a medal,” North told AAP.
“I think there’s no weaknesses in this team. There’s great talent there. I think we’re going to be a bit of a surprise packet at the Olympics.”
Arnold, who played and was an assistant coach at two previous Games, said Australia needed to be positive and not afraid of their rivals.
“I’ve picked a squad that is very fast, very athletic, which has done extremely well,” Arnold said.
“We’ve got to go there and play our own game and be confident. We are match-hardened, we’re battle-worn in a way.
“We’re going to give it our best shot and hold nothing back and fear nobody.”
Thompson, who has just recovered from a recent knee injury, was overjoyed at his selection after missing out on the 2000 Olyroos squad.
“I didn’t think another opportunity would come along,” Thompson said.
He was chosen ahead of several talented young strikers including former Adelaide United pair Bruce Djite and Nathan Burns, plus David Williams, Michael Zullo and Dario Vidosic.
“They are only 20 and were pretty much in between Olympic age groups and that made it pretty difficult for them,” Arnold said.
Australia have been drawn in the same group as Serbia, Ivory Coast and Argentina, whose star-studded squad will include Javier Mascherano, Juan Riquelme and young superstar Lionel Messi.
Asked how he intended to cope with the Argentine squad, Arnold joked: “Get Lionel Messi in the tunnel before the game.”
Australia will play New Zealand at North Sydney Oval next Saturday and three more lead-up matches in Asia against opponents to be announced.
Olympic squad: Tando Velaphi, Adam Federici, Nikita Rukavysta, Stuart Musialik, Mark Milligan, Mark Bridge, Billy Celeski, Kristian Sarkies, Adrian Leijer, Neil Kilkenny, Trent McClenahan, Matthew Spiranovic, James Troisi, Ruben Zadkovich, David Carney, Jade North, Archie Thompson, Nikolai Topor-Stanley.
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