If variety is truly the spice of life than the Joeys will be in for one heck of a ride when they face up to Brazil, Ivory Coast and Denmark at June’s U17 World Cup in Mexico.
“The advantage that we have going into the tournament is that the majority of our squad is based at the Australian Institute of Sport and the players are very familiar with each other, so it is easier to work on the details,” explained Youth teams coach Jan Versleijen following the draw and the Dutchman is not wrong.
In fact, Mexico will double as a test of Versleijen’s work at the AIS.
To overcome such high quality opposition Australia will need to use possession wisely with their movement off the ball crucial to breaking down their opponents.
Both Football Federation Australia and the local football community will be watching Versleijen closely to see not just how far his players go in the tournament but how they get there.
Meanwhile, I find myself thinking about young Julius Davies who should have been involved in national youth team action for Australia during the upcoming European summer.
Essentially the story goes that Davies was with the Joeys in Uzbekistan in 2009 when the midfielder was informed that he was no longer eligible to play for Australia following FIFA tweaking the rule to protect young footballers from being exploited.
Players were informed they needed to have lived in a country they weren’t born in for five years before switching allegiances and Davies, who’d come to Australia after losing both his parents in Sierra Leone’s Diamond Wars, only spent four years in Perth before joining Bayern Munich’s youth system.
So now Davies has been left in international limbo.
While Football Federation Australia are still going in to bat for the youngster in his quest to represent his adopted country things look bleak.
‘We will keep trying but it just seems that every avenue brings a negative answer,” FFA’s national teams and football development chief John Boultbee told the Sydney Morning Herald late last week.
Even though I’m looking forward to these two youth tournaments later this year, especially as I’ll be on the ground at both of them, I wont be able to shake the disappointment that Julius Davies, the man FIFA seems to have left behind, won’t be there.
Ante
Guest
I played against the 99 joeys team in a pratcie match. I remember them being fit... tactically organized... and very competitive. They weren't an elegant team but hard to beat... I dont think they lost any international matches (even in the lead up) except Brazil. I can add some information to Mintox list on where they are now... Van-Stratten – A-League Mark Byrnes - NSW state league Shane Cansdell-Sherriff – English League Two Iain Fyfe – K-League Adrian Madaschi – A-League Anthony Doumanis - NSW state league Bradley Groves - retired James Johnson - retired and working for AFC Aaron Goulding - SA state league Shane Lockhart Jade North – J-League Wayne Shroj – A-League Louis Brain – state league Joseph Di iorio – Vic state league Joshua Kennedy – J-League Dylan Macallister – A-league Scott McDonald – English Championship
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
The same Marquinhos that went on to be star for Kashima Antlers before transferring to Vegalta Sendai this year and having to leave because of the tsunami? Though given he is a number '3' perhaps not. Seeing 'Leo' followed by 'Walker' made me smile. One letter off :)
Kasey
Guest
apaway, from fifa.com the Brazilian team that day was [1] RUBINHO (GK) [2] BRUNO LEITE [3] MARQUINHOS [4] RICARDO [5] EDUARDO COSTA [6] ANDERSON [7] LEO [8] WALKER [10] CACA (-75') [16] LEONARDO [18] ADRIANO (-61') Substitute(s) [9] SOUZA (+61') [11] LEANDRO [12] DIEGO [13] CARLOS HENRIQUE [14] MATHEUS [15] WELLINGTON (+75') [17] ANDREZINHO I'm at work so I cant go hunting for exactly where those players ended up..the name Caca of course stands out, but I'm not sure which one it is, not to be confused with the infamous Kaka (of AC Milan and Real Madrid) and that send off against Cote dIvoire in the last World cup(incidentally, a game that I was privileged enough to see live at Soccer City Jo' burg:) )
weston park posse
Guest
I am sick of people saying the world cups no matter what age are tough groups. Well of course they are, it is the world cup. We have to change our mentality from thinking, we are up against it, to, right lets 'ave em. However we have some good prospects coming up around the 17 age group. The JDD affair is sad in all forms.
apaway
Guest
Interesting list Mintox, amazing that Josh Kennedy and Scott McDonald were in the team. Do you have by any chance the Brazil team who beat the Joeys in the final on penalties, to see how their 17 year olds have progressed?
Rob
Guest
I would have thought it was Wayne Srhoj?
Darwin Stubbie
Guest
I was at that final also (as well as taking in a few of other games as well) ... the Aussies had a standout kid playing the middle of the park .. always wondered whatever happened to him ...
floppybottom
Guest
the coach's opinion is the most biased of all. of course he's going to set it up as a really difficult group in both instances.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
I am enjoying the sentiments being expressed here. Develop, develop, develop :)
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
Our opinion is based on very little, even in relation to our own team. Jan Versleijen's opinion however is another mattter entirely. I'm willing to accept his assessment in this particular instance.
Realfootball
Guest
Julius Davies has been very poorly advised by someone on this. The rules are well known. FIFA might make an exception in this case, but why should they? He could have stayed another 12 months. Not blaming him at all, but the adults who orchestrated the move were seriously negligent in not considering his best interests over the longer term. He's not in the international wilderness, strictly speaking. Once his 5 years is up, and he stays in Germany, he qualifies for Germany.
Realfootball
Guest
I saw many of the games in 99 - the Joey's were a pretty ordinary team and got to the final instead of far better teams. I was also at the final and they were never in it. "Gallant" yes, competitive no. Significantly, in that tournament they had a very helpful draw. Agree that the results aren't foremost - the nature of the performance is far more significant, particularly at these two tournaments. Don't know anything about the Joeys, but I'm confident the U20s have enough firepower and speed to put a scare into any team they face.
mintox
Guest
I absolutely agree Kasey, it seems the message still hasnt been conveyed properly that the primary goal of these tournaments for us should be to further develop our players so that the future Socceroos teams can boast some of the worlds best players. All I want to see is us trying to play football against what will no doubt be some of the best youth players in the world. If we can hold our own or out play them based on holding possession and movement off the ball then win lose or draw I will be happy. Yes we certainly did end up runners up in the 1999 u17s championship but that team was geared to winning and its shown by the lack of progress of the players from that team (for many of the ones I couldn't find they were either playing in state leagues or not playing at all): Van-Stratten - A-League Mark Byrnes Shane Cansdell-Sherriff - English League Two Iain Fyfe - K-League Adrian Madaschi - Portogruaro, Serie B Anthony Doumanis Bradley Groves James Johnson Aaron Goulding Shane Lockhart Jade North - J-League Wayne Shroj - A-League Louis Brain - Joseph Di iorio - Joshua Kennedy - J-League Dylan Macallister - Icleand Scott McDonald - English Championship
whiskeymac
Guest
tough groups indeed, but i think the sentiment is correct that the teams are better off playig well and losing at this age group than winning and not learning. or so i think. of course it wld be best to win and play well. either way, good luck tot he boys and i look fwd to seeing you on TV. As for julius Davies - his story has been mentioned a few times before in other forums, and am glad you raised it here, and its ridiculous that FIFA is being so pig headed on this issue - surely there will be exceptions to every rule on a case by case/ merit scenario. Maybe we need to get Hargitay to go in and bat for us. I feel sorry for Julius(he only has an aussie passport) and, to be honest, for us too as we are deprived off a legitimately good player. I hope his cause isnt given up on.
JohnL
Guest
Is the opinion that we are in tough groups based on actually watching and reviewing each team in their respective age group? or basing it on what each country does at senior level?
me too
Guest
both teams have one giant in their group, and two beatable opponents. if they can't progress from tnose groups then they don't deserve to. i think the boys are up to it.
Kasey
Guest
Wasn't it in 1999 that the Joeys made it to the final and played Brazil - losing eventually after a galant fight? If the boys are good enough, they'll get through. The old addage about no easy games in international football obviously starts at the underage tournaments too! Will the games be on SBS? To be honest, No one really cares if the Joeys win or not. At their age its about development and I feel that three difficult games will do more for their development than 3 easier games. Still if they lpay as a disciplined unit and keep their heads, who knows what they can accomplish..football is a funny old game:)
Midfielder
Guest
Seems like the U20 's and the Joeys have very hard groups ... will be interesting to see how good they are...