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Coach Aurelio Vidmar reckons he’ll get “slapped in the face” by overseas soccer clubs refusing to release Australia’s most talented players for the London Olympics qualifying campaign.
But the Australian Under-23 mentor remains confident his under-strength outfit can survive a tough road to qualify for next year’s Games.
Australia’s Olympic soccer campaign will begin in Adelaide on September 21 with a fixture against United Arab Emirates.
The Olyroos also confront Iraq and Uzbekistan in their group.
“We had a bad dip in the draw because we got probably the toughest group,” Vidmar told reporters in Adelaide on Wednesday.
Vidmar said the quest to qualify will likely be hampered by overseas clubs refusing to release the likes of Tommy Oar, Matthew Leckie and Luke DeVere.
“Unfortunately for our campaign all the games are on non-FIFA dates, so that means that if we call any players who are overseas, the club has the right to say no,” he said.
“We will try to get the players back, but I know we will probably get slapped in the face with it.
“We’ll try, but if not, we will have to make do with the players that we have here and most of them are playing in the A-League, and they are very strong, committed players.”
Vidmar was confident the depth of talent could prevail without the leading lights.
“I’m really confident with the group that we have, they’re a real professional outfit and prepared to work hard …all those ingredients puts us in really good shape,” he said.
“I’m really comfortable and confident that we’re able to qualify.
The Olyroos will play matches home and away in September, November, next February and March.
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