Training camps return for Australia's national teams

One of the biggest issues that has affected the Australian international teams during the pandemic has been the lack of competitive fixtures.

Across all age groups and in both the women’s and men’s version of football, the international sides have suffered while the rest of the world has continued to play.

However, things finally appear to be changing – especially for the Olyroos, Australia’s men under 23 team.

22 players have just completed a camp in the Dutch town of Hovelaken, known for its homonymous motorway– in readiness for Australia’s assault on the AFC U23 Asian Cup.

The AFC U23 Asian Cup will be held in Uzbekistan in June this year, with Australia, who finished third at the last edition of the tournament in Thailand in January 2020.

Australia has been drawn in Group B for the AFC U23 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2022 alongside Kuwait, Iraq, and Jordan.

Australia’s group phase matches will be held on the 2nd, 5th, and 8th of June 2022.

Since the 90s, training camps have formed the backbone of Australia’s international sides, even prior to the pandemic, these types of camps seemed like a relic from football of the past.

By the end of 2002 the Olyroos will have participated in multiple camps, elite matches, friendlies, and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) qualifiers.

This week’s camp was spearheaded by Football Australia’s Head of Technical Direction, Trevor Morgan and aptly assisted by former international players Paul Okon & Craig Moore

The Olyroos played two friendlies against FC Utrecht’s U23s & Netherlands U19s – resulting in two draws

This was the first time wearing the green and gold for nine of these players, as Trevor Morgan looks to assemble a large playing pool of players that will give the Olyroos a huge range of depth to choose from.

Several players will be disappointed to have missed this initial squad, but are hopeful to be participating in the next one.

While a large portion of this assembled group are not regularly playing week in week out, and the ones that are playing; are doing it tough with lower league clubs – there is some real talent.

Of the goalkeepers selected Nicholas Bilokapic may draw the initial headlines, but the inclusion of Ilia Shalamanov-Trenkova – who is a player I’ve spoken about in prior columns on The Roar, is long overdue.

The 6’4” former Brisbane prodigy has been toiling away in Bulgaria and is the finest Australian teenage goalkeeper in Europe.

Four of the selected contingent plies their trade in Croatia, with Canberra-born midfielder Nikola Jadric leading the way.

Jadric has worked his way through the youth levels and is applying pressure on the older professionals in front of him at his club side.

Alou Koul is the stand out selection in attack, but it is the little-known Marco Arambasic that could be the real find.

Marco has followed in his father’s footsteps, Zlatko who also left NSW to move to KV Mechelen many years ago.

A tall, physically imposing striker with great hold up play and a neat first touch, Marco has all the traits to be a first team striker

In defense, Doni Grdic & Hosine Bility have been on the cusp of breaking into their respective clubs first team consistently this season.

The much-maligned Popvich brothers, sons of Melbourne victory coach Tony – have been surprisingly selected

The camp presented another chance for one of Australian next anointed technical wizards, Ryan Teague.

Marco Arambasic (KV Mechelen, Belgium)
Hosine Bility (FC Midtjylland, Denmark)
Nicholas Bilokapic (Hartlepool United, England)
Thymos Caroutas (UE Cornella B, Spain)
Jacob Chapman (Huddersfield Town AFC, England)
Jordan Courtney-Perkins (Warta Poznan, Poland)
Alberto Del Grosso (US Cisanese ASD, Italy)
Tyrese Francois (Fulham FC, England)
Doni Grdic (HNK Sibenik, Croatia)
Nikola Jadric (HNK Orijent 1919, Croatia)
Alou Kuol (SV Sandhausen, Germany)
Murray Miller (Rangers FC B, Scotland)
Emile Peios (Sint-Truiden, Belgium)
Jordan Perez (AEK Larnaca, Cyprus)
Cameron Peupion (Brighton & Hove Albion, England)
Gabriel Popovic (NK Rudes, Croatia)
Kristian Popovic (NK Rudes, Croatia)
Jing Reec (AGF Aarhus, Denmark)
Dylan Ruiz-Diaz (Un-attached)
Ilia Shalamanov-Trenkova (FC Litex Lovech, Bulgaria)
Aleks Taleski (Un-attached)
Ryan Teague (S.C. Covilha, Portugal)