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Olyroos coach Aurelio Vidmar has called in the cavalry as he attempts to steer Australia to a first Olympic Games in eight years.
Vidmar has named a strong squad including 12 overseas-based players and 11 A-League talents to start the path to the Rio Games against minnows Hong Kong, Myanmar and hosts Taiwan at the AFC Under-23 championship qualifying tournament in Kaohsiung City.
The experienced group is headlined by Terry Antonis, who was a member of Australia’s Asian Cup winning squad, plus Adam Taggart, Brad Smith and Josh Brilliante.
Vidmar says the high-stakes necesitated the selection of an elite group.
“We’ve put together a squad that has some good international experience and showing good form at club level, both in Australia and throughout Europe,” Vidmar said.
“There can’t be any mistakes now, there can’t be any trialling.
“We need to go in there with a good mindset with these three games.”
The AFC Under-23 championship to be held in Qatar in March, also doubles as the qualifying tournament for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
Australia was humiliated in its effort to qualify for the London Olympics, crashing out in a group with Iraq, UAE and Uzbekistan without scoring a goal in six games.
Vidmar said the forthcoming matches would be much tougher than they looked on paper.
“We’re not taking anything for granted … there’s no easy international games any more,” he said.
“Myanmar qualifed for the Under-20 World Cup. We didn’t.
“We’re going to have to be at our best.”
Vidmar said if Fulham striker Taggart didn’t overcome a soft tissue injury, his place would be taken by 17-year-old Sydney FC striker George Blackwood.
The call-ups mean Australian sides chasing the A-League premiership will miss lose key players for the league’s run-in.
Melbourne Victory is the hardest hit, with first-team players Jason Geria, Scott Galloway and Connor Pain all called up.
Perth Glory will lose teenage sensation Daniel De Silva and Jamie Maclaren while Sydney will miss Antonis.
Vidmar suggested young centre-backs Nick Ansell and Connor Chapman missed selection as they were playing regular A-League matches.
The Olyroos play Hong Kong on March 27, Taiwan on March 29 and Myanmar on March 31.
To qualify for next year’s tournament, Australia must win their group or finish as one of the best five runners-up from 10 groups.
Vidmar said he hoped to include injured forwards Awer Mabil and Corey Gameiro in future squads.
Olyroos squad for AFC under-23 qualifiers
Mustafa Amini (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Terry Antonis (Sydney FC), Josh Brillante (Empoli, Italy), Corey Brown (Brisbane Roar), Cameron Burgess (Ross County, Scotland), Daniel De Silva (Perth Glory), James Donachie (Brisbane Roar), Jack Duncan (Gk) (Perth Glory), Ryan Edwards (Reading FC, England), Giancarlo Gallifuoco (Swansea FC), Scott Galloway(Melbourne Victory), Jason Geria (Melbourne Victory), John Hall (Gk) (Adelaide United), Andrew Hoole (Newcastle Jets), Jackson Irvine (Ross County, Scotland), Aaron Lennox (Gk) (Queens Park Rangers, England), Jamie MacLaren (Perth Glory), Connor Pain (Melbourne Victory), Brad Smith (Liverpool, England), Adam Taggart (Fulham FC), Steven Ugarkovic (NK Osijek, Croatia), Ryan Williams (Fulham FC, England), Kwame Yeboah (Borussia Monchengladbach, Germany)
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