It has been 13 long years since the Australian men’s football team qualified for the Olympics.
All this changed 18 months ago, when Nicholas D’Agostino’s second-half strike against Uzbekistan gave Australia a tense win in the playoffs of the Asian qualifying tournament.
Coach Graham Arnold has spent the past few days notifying the below players to get their bags packed for Toyko.
Goalkeepers: Thomas Glover, Ashley Maynard-Brewer.
Defenders: Nathaniel Atkinson, Joel King, Thomas Deng, Kye Rowles, Harry Souttar, Ruon Tongyik.
Midfielders: Keanu Baccus, Denis Genreau, Riley McGree, Connor Metcalfe, Dylan Pieras, Caleb Watts.
Forwards: Daniel Arzani, Nicholas D’Agostino, Mitchell Duke, Reno Piscopo.
Cameron Devlin, Jordan Holmes (goalkeeper), Ramy Najjarine and Lachlan Wales have been named as the train-on players.
It is an eclectic group, with players representing clubs across the A-League, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. But it is the selection of the over-age players that will divide supporters.
(Francois Nel/Getty Images)
At 24, Ruon Tongyik has just come off a career-best season with the Central Coast Mariners and many would argue is a deserved selection in the squad. However, his inclusion means there is no room for 21-year-old Jay Rich-Baghuelou.
The towering Rich-Baghuelou has had a great year with the Crystal Palace under-23s and has been training with the first team weekly.
Palace are currently manager-less and have released a lot of their defenders, so it would not be a surprise to see him play in the Premier League next season.
Australia have a lack of depth in the central forward position and supporters expected Jamie Maclaren to be picked as the number nine, but Arnold has chosen one of his loyal lieutenants – 30-year-old Mitchell Duke.
Duke has come off a solid yet unspectacular season with the Wanderers, where he scored six goals in an underperforming team.
Deni Juric has spent the past few seasons lighting up the Croatian league and appeared to be a sure-fire selection, but Croatian clubs are notorious for not releasing international players, which would also explain Anthony Kalik’s absence.
The enigmatic Daniel Arzani has been given yet another undeserved chance at the expense of performing players, having barely kicked a ball in close to four years.
(Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
A-League players Alou Kuol, Marco Tilio, Stefan Colakovski, Ramy Najjarine, Tass Mourdoukoutas, Daniel Margush and Aiden O’Neill missed the cut.
In terms of European-based options, Ajdin Hrustic, Fran Karacic, Tyrese Francois, Marlee Francois, Jacob Italiano, Panos Armenakas, Noah Botic, Ryan Teague, Cameron Peupion, Tristan Hammond and Presley Ortiz weren’t selected.
The Olyroos have been drawn in the group of death, alongside Egypt, Spain and Argentina, meaning they are not expected to pick up any points.
Still, the Australian football community will have their fingers and toes crossed that Graham Arnold’s selections can at least be competitive.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Knowing Arnold he probably made it possible for clubs to avoid releasing even u23 players with demands for players to be released early for his extended playing camps. Other players like Hrujstic maybe spending all that time with the Socceroos they couldn't spare more away from their clubs. Remember his massive expedition for Beijing 2008 only to leave most of the players on his world tour out.
Nick Symonds
Guest
Mitchell Duke (Age 30) Western Sydney Wanderers 2019–2020 > 18 goals from 37 matches Western Sydney Wanderers 2021 > 6 goals from 17 matches Socceroos 2013-2021 > 4 goals from 9 matches
Nick Symonds
Guest
Arzani scored a brace against Spain U23 during Graham Arnold's pre tournament camp.
Winter A League is Awesome
Roar Rookie
Arzani played in the world cup. That is serious experience. If you have guys not making an impact in some A League games, what ensures they will have an impact in a 3 game tournament.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
there are a raft of players who were getting minutes in europe that have been overlooked for selection. Tyrese Francois, Marlee Francois, Jacob Italiano, Panos Armenakas, Noah Botic, Ryan Teague, Cameron Peupion, Tristan Hammond, Presley Ortiz, Zak Gilsenan & Alex Robertson all had decent seasons in europe Cristian Volpato & Rafael Rech are unfortunately born out of the designated year arzani needs to cut his losses and come back to australia for a year or 2 and try and rehabilitate himself, he'll be 23 in january selecting duke as the striker shows you exactly how australia will play, which is a massive concern
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
arggh the editors chopped and changed this article
Mark
Guest
It's hard to know with the overseas clubs which ones declined to release their players so in a sense we don't know if they were available or not as you hint. I agree with AA and also question the selection of Arzani. Played something like a bit over 150 minutes in the last two years, and has had an ACL since going to the world cup. I question that he has anything like the X factor anymore. Where is the sign of it in the last two years? Arzani has been gifted this in the forlorn hope that he finds some form during the Olympics and then a Euro club comes looking for him. And then hopefully Arnold can have him back starring in the 'roos. I don't think this selection is in the frame of mind for the best chance of winning. Who would I have replaced him with; Wales, Tilio, Kuol, Colakovski take your pick or play Pierias or Atkinson as wingers and add another full back (as I'm not sold on King) say Russell or add another overage in Behich or Grant I see why they picked Duke. Maclaren is getting married and has probably said no, and Taggart is probably unable to be released from his Japanese club which he has just joined. I'm pessimistic, they might jag a win or draw against Egypt (who are probably the best team in Africa) but I think there's little hope against both Argentina and France.
Winter A League is Awesome
Roar Rookie
I reckon they can make it out of the group. It will be a great test for the players to step up for a couple of big games. This needs to happen regularly instead of chucking them straight into a socceroos squad. Kuol went missing the second half of the season. Colakovski does well when the whole City squad is firing. He cant manufacture a goal out of nothing like jmac yet. Tilio is on and off. Najjarine had a good spell once every couple of games at City. Arzani was electric when he was on. Very similar to the impact Mooy had. He could change the game. Glover, Atkinson, Metcalfe are in the current City squad. Wales ex City. City has one of the youngest sides that finishes high up the ladder. A mix of “experienced” youth and guys in their latest 20s seems and a few over 30s seems to be the formula for the A League going forwards.