The Olyroos may have reached Tokyo 2020 with all the finesse of Eric the Eel, but there’s no doubt their qualification is a huge achievement and a major boost for Australian football.
Third place never felt so sweet!
Congratulations to Graham Arnold and the Olyroos on their 1-0 win over Uzbekistan in Bangkok, which saw Australia’s under-23 national team book the third and final Asian place on offer for a spot at this year’s Olympic Games in Japan.
Having failed to qualify for the last two Olympics in a row, Australia’s underage men’s side sealed their place with the nerviest of victories at Rajamangala Stadium in the Thai capital.
They needed a superb solo goal from Nick D’Agostino to do so, while a red card to Uzbek substitute Oybek Bozoro – who had only been on the pitch for six minutes – no doubt aided the cause.
Even then, the Olyroos were still under the pump for much of the second half, as reflected by Fox Sports’ co-commentator Mark Bosnich’s increasingly nerve-addled call of the game.
The 1992 Olympian rode every pass and tackle alongside Brenton Speed in commentary, and Bozza was no doubt as relieved as the rest of us when referee Mohammed Hassan blew the full-time whistle.
And D’Agostino’s wonder strike just two minutes after half-time deserves a special mention.
Released by an intelligent ball forward from Zach Duncan, the Perth Glory attacker glided between no less than three defenders before opening up his body and side-footing an unerring strike into the bottom corner.
It was a fitting reward for D’Agostino’s willingness to take possession and drive into an attacking area, and after a brace in the group stage against host nation Thailand, it was also the Glory youngster’s third goal of the AFC U-23 Championship campaign.
And it was all achieved despite D’Agostino getting just 14 minutes of game time – in a solitary outing off the bench – in the A-League this season.
It’s a point that has raised more than a few questions about the purpose of the A-League, and whether our youngsters are getting enough game time.
It was Arnold himself who said in 2018 he “didn’t know the A-League was a development league”.
And many of the statistics around the use of young players like D’Agostino suggest that it’s not. Should it be?
When three A-League coaches are sacked in quick succession, it’s hard to argue the competition isn’t very much a results-driven enterprise.
D’Agostino left Brisbane in June in search of more first-team football, and a few Roar fans have had their noses out of joint after Robbie Fowler recently signed Corey Brown and Scott McDonald.
The consensus is that Brown and McDonald are keeping younger players out of the team, however the reality is that both Jordan Courtney-Perkins and Mirza Muratovic have both had chances so far this season.
Graham Arnold (Photo by Tom Dulat/Getty Images)
Courtney-Perkins got absolutely rinsed by Sydney FC in a 5-1 defeat earlier in the season, while Muratovic was practically invisible in his two most recent outings.
Should Fowler have persisted with the pair – and potentially risked his job – for the sake of their development?
It’s a delicate balancing act, and one that becomes all the more complicated when you remember that not only will the Olyroos squad have to be trimmed to just 18 players for the Olympics, but Arnold will also have three overage players at his disposal.
Which overage players should he pick? And what happens with Riley McGree – who missed the tournament in Thailand through an FFA-imposed suspension?
And what of Arnold’s pre-tournament claim that he might simply take the Olyroos to the Copa America in June as a warm-up for the Olympics?
There’s much to consider ahead of a bumper year of international football for Australia.
But one thing is certain: qualifying for the Olympics for the first time since 2008 is a major accomplishment, and one that is definitely worth celebrating.
HR
Roar Rookie
Isaias is a left-field choice, as much as anything because most people probably won't actually remember he has qualified to play for Australia, but he would be a great onfield general.
WanderingKooka
Guest
Reasonably sure Arnie is meaning that he would like to take one or two of the olyroos that stood out to the Copa for experience. So probably Piscopo and Duncan or a couple of others depending availablity.
anon
Roar Pro
Good to see Arnie finally win something. Well done!
Daniel Hackett
Guest
No we've only got Mooy and Ryan who happen to be 2 of the best 4 players at a premier league side ....
Micko
Roar Rookie
Fadida it's the story of the A-League: recycling the same 25-37 year old journeymen, rather than trying untested 16-24 year olds who haven't been given a proper chance.
Seababoon
Guest
Who is the 5 of Arnie's quota system out of curiosity?
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
and the two youth goal keepers look good too - we need a second division
Waz
Roar Rookie
There’s a lot of faith in Trewin. Reardon looks to be scarred badly from last season unfortunately but you’re right, there’s a huge amount of young defensive talent coming through at Roar
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Yes, Brown, Powell and O'Toole are more wing backs, O'Toole is possibly the worst of our young defenders but that's not a bad mark as there's lots of potential among them, add Trewin and Reardon to the list too, plus a couple whose names I don't know.
IJ
Roar Rookie
Even worse is what happened so often against Perth - high crosses lumped in when McC was surrounded by 3 much taller cbs. Ridiculous.
Fadida
Roar Rookie
Yep. The number of short corners that end up with the keeper is staggering. The option has to be to play forward wherever possible, and yet so often the ball just goes around the "bowl" at the back. Having a player with the ability to carry the ball out from the back or play it into midfield , or similarly a player able to receive and face forward with one touch in midfield, are crucial. I watched with great frustration Durante slowly passing the ball from side to side last night. Pointless
Stevo
Roar Rookie
I see this backwards, sideways thing in the A-league week in week out. It kills me watching this rubbish when a forward like Maclaren is sitting between the last two defenders and waiting for the ball at his feet so he can turn and run and what happens, the ball goes sideways!!!! Clearly I have no concept of attacking football.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Mike nice article ... I watched the game, great goal, we seem to have trouble holding the ball but great game and that kid can come to the Mariners tomorrow ... he will start every game...
Waz
Roar Rookie
Thats an excellent post. Too often at youth level our players are coached to play backwards and sideways, to retain possession rather than take a risk and play forward, so good to see the U23’s doing this.
Waz
Roar Rookie
It is (I wouldn’t know the stats for D’Aggers) and that’s the debate going on between National Second Division vs Reserve League. We need both but can’t afford both
Waz
Roar Rookie
Courtney-Perkins has been occupying the wide-left midfield position, and doing it extremely well for a 16 year old. O’Toole has been unable to do the same hence Brown was brought back in as cover. Like you I would prefer to see Powell playing there but Brown has done okay there (and Powell just signed and extended contract which is a plus)
Redondo
Roar Rookie
Isaias would be a very good choice
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Begs the question as to who is suitable as on-field leadership has a far heavier weighting. I'd like to see someone who can anchor the side, play a leadership role, protect the back 4, control the tempo of the game etc and as such think Isaias Sanchez would make a decent choice.
Redondo
Roar Rookie
Love the Hoff! But...imagine Matty Simon let loose in the U23s!
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
It was worth sitting up for Mike. For me, it just rings the bell for a second division, team makeup minimum of x U23. Make it the pro/rel league for the NPL until we can settle the dust over the franchises. What a great tournament for D'aggers, after his double in the Group stage (our only other win wasn't it?), it'll be hard for Arnie to leave him out.