Opinion
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.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Clubs have cited regulations claiming players who decline national team call-ups ought to be prevented from featuring at a domestic level.
Nestory Irankunda has sensationally rejected the chance to play at the Paris Olympics this June after a late bid from the Olyroos to include…
Olyroos coach Tony Vidmar is refusing to put a line through Nestory Irankunda's hopes of playing at the Paris Olympics after claiming he is…
The excitement around the Socceroos’ camp has been great. In fact, for many it’s the most exciting chapter for the national team since the…
Football Australia (FA) Technical Director Trevor Morgan may take charge of the Olyroos for the AFC U-23 Asian Cup in Uzbekistan in June after…
Channel Ten has done an admirable job in advertising and telecasting the recent Socceroos and Matildas matches, but they made their first error by…
