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The Olyroos eleven Arnie needs to pick

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Roar Guru
21st March, 2019
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The Olyroos, run by Socceroos coach Graham Arnold, need to finish first or be the top four highest-ranked second-placed teams in order to qualify for the AFC U23 Championship in Thailand next year.

Their group consists of the Korea Republic, Chinese Taipei and Cambodia.

While the squad is mainly made up of youngsters in the A-League, there is Tom Glover, Jordan Holmes, Alex Gersbach, Harry Souttar, Sebastian Pasquali and Reno Piscopo playing in Europe, as well as Pierce Waring in Japan.

That being said, it is certain that the Olyroos have the ability to defeat Chinese Taipei and Cambodia.

However, South Korea will be a genuine test for the Olyroos. The South Koreans won the Asian Games last year – where the age limit for teams is under 23 plus up to three over-aged players for each squad – as well as coming fourth in the AFC U23 Championship last year.

Whether or not the Olyroos make the Olympics for the first time in 12 long years – which hopefully doesn’t go on to be 32 years – the first step for them is to make it through the qualifiers first.

Only then can they think about a return to the Olympic Games next year.

Let’s line up the best youngsters in the country, excluding Thomas Deng and Daniel Arzani who are injured of course.

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Arnold should employ a 4-4-2 formation. This could be the formation the Socceroos use in the future and it was used against Malaysia.

Graham Arnold head coach of Australia looks on

Olyroos coach Graham Arnold. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

Goalkeeper
The Olyroos have three weak choices for goalkeepers, who all struggle with getting first-team football.

Daniel Margush played for Adelaide United around a year ago, coincidentally when his team-mate Paul Izzo was with the Olyroos, and did a reasonable job.

Tom Glover played for the Mariners last season on loan from Tottenham, where he played four games before Ben Kennedy replaced him.

Jordan Holmes recently moved on to Scottish Premiership side St Mirren. He has sat on the bench in all of St Mirren’s fixtures since moving to the club.

It should probably be Daniel Margush. He hasn’t done much wrong at Adelaide United. Glover and Holmes just don’t appeal as much.

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Defence
Melbourne City’s first choice right-back Nathaniel Atkinson has slightly fallen off the radar after Harrison Delbridge was shifted into his position and Ritchie De Laet was signed last off-season.

Johnny Koutroumbis managed to play more recently for the Jets after suffering cancer. They both have around the same amount of game time.

In central defence, Brandon Wilson – despite his ability to feature in both midfield and defence – has rarely featured for the Perth Glory this season. He was a colossus in the Olyroos’ match against Malaysia and scored with a magnificent header.

Kye Rowles, on the other hand, has managed to play many minutes for the struggling Mariners, who have conceded plenty of goals this season.

Harry Souttar is playing in the third division of English football with Fleetwood Town on loan from Stoke City, and received praise from the coach and fans recently.

Tass Mourdoukoutas managed to break into the first team of the Wanderers after injuries to key defenders.

At left back, there is Alex Gersbach who has managed to break into the Eredivisie, and he was capped by the Socceroos before, putting in impressive shifts.

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Ivan Vujica is playing his third season at Newcastle, although he has only managed a handful of appearances this season.

Johnny Koutroumbis has slightly more game time recently compared to Atkinson – and the Malaysians seemed to target him – so he earns the right back position.

Harry Souttar’s praise in England means he surely deserves to partner Brandon Wilson who scored and defended well against Malaysia.

Gersbach, being a Socceroo and earning game time in Holland, means he should get the nod ahead of Ivan Vujica.

Midfield
The skipper of the Olyroos, Riley McGree, struggled to break into Melbourne City’s starting line-up after the signings of Shayon Harrison and Jamie Maclaren in the recent transfer window. Despite this, he has huge talent and did his job in central midfield.

Sebastian Pasquali, who partnered him against Malaysia is currently at Jong Ajax, is struggling for game time. However, his versatility – being able to play in attacking midfield, defensive midfield and defence – could be important for the Olyroos.

Aiden O’Neill is in good form at the Mariners on loan from Burnley and starts nearly every game for them.

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Keanu Baccus is becoming a regular in Western Sydney’s midfield and played for the Olyroos last year.

Denis Genreau joined PEC Zwolle on loan from Melbourne City and played regularly at the beginning of the Eredivisie season, before getting dropped to the bench.

Jake Brimmer has a handful of appearances for Perth off the bench.

Reno Piscopo opened up Malaysia’s defence with his amazing skills and ball control, as well as playing regularly for AC Renate in the Serie C.

Joey Champness recovered from injury and also performed well against the Malaysians.

Joseph Champness

Joseph Champness celebrated with Newcastle Jets team-mates. (Photo by Ashley Feder/Getty Images)

Abraham Majok is now a key player for the Western Sydney Wanderers, who is developing as a footballer. He also threatened Malaysia off the bench.

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There is a wide range of options, all similar in ability, but Arnold must go with the skipper, who already had experience with the Olyroos last season.

Aiden O’Neill with his form at the Central Coast Mariners should be rewarded with a chance to partner him.

Piscopo is a must with his ability to threaten defences, but Champness’ impressive shift has him edge out Abraham Majok.

Attack
The most capped player in the squad, George Blackwood, has eight Olyroos appearances with five goals to his name. He managed to score twice for Adelaide in 12 appearances due to injury and was unlucky not to score more.

The season just started for Pierce Waring who played for the Cerezo Osaka youth team in the J3 League last season.

Lachie Wales played regularly as a striker after Bruno Fornaroli was dropped from Melbourne City’s first team, before getting benched after Jamie Maclaren was signed. He scored three goals and assisted twice, earning a NAB Young Footballer of the Year nomination.

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Nick D’Agostino, a Brisbane Roar youngster with 36 games under his belt – including 12 this season, with three starts – is currently on a goal-scoring drought.

One of the fearsome front two to get the goals for the Olyroos should be George Blackwood due to his experience playing and scoring for the Socceroos.

Lachie Wales is one of the finest youngsters in the A-League and should partner him in the attack.

Hopefully, these players have the potential to be future Socceroos and to qualify for the Olympics.

It’s a matter of defeating the Cambodians, Taiwanese and perhaps the Koreans or going another four years without qualifying for the Olympics.

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