Preview - 3rd Place Play-off: Arnold calls for final push as Olympics beckon for Australia

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Preview - 3rd Place Play-off: Arnold calls for final push as Olympics beckon for Australia

Bangkok: Australia head coach Graham Arnold has called on his players to deliver one final stellar performance as the Olyroos prepare to face Uzbekistan in Saturday’s AFC U23 Championship Thailand 2020’s third place play-off, the winners of which will be guaranteed a place at this year’s Olympic Games.

Despite losing to Korea Republic in the semi-finals, Australia remain on the cusp of qualifying for Tokyo 2020, progress which would be assured should they beat their counterparts from Central Asia at Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium.

Given what is at stake Arnold has, not surprisingly, wasted little time in asking his young charges to dig deep once more at a tournament where they claimed top spot in Group A before beating Syria in the last eight.

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Preview - 3rd Place Play-off: Uzbekistan counting on history to take them to Olympics

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Preview - 3rd Place Play-off: Uzbekistan counting on history to take them to Olympics

Bangkok: Captain Islomjon Kobilov is hoping history can repeat itself on Saturday when Uzbekistan take on Australia in the third place play-off at the AFC U23 Championship Thailand 2020 as the two nations go head-to-head in the battle for the Continent’s final berth at the Olympic Games.

The two nations face off at Rajamangala Stadium having suffered defeat in the semi-finals and know this will be their last chance to book a ticket to Tokyo this summer.

Uzbekistan are aiming to qualify for the Olympic Games for the first time in their history and Kobilov will be looking for his teammates to repeat the win achieved by several of the squad over the Australians at the AFC U-19 Championship in Bahrain in 2016.

Australia's Arnold targets Olympics after last four heartbreak

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Australia's Arnold targets Olympics after last four heartbreak

Bangkok: Australia head coach Graham Arnold had no option but to concede his Olyroos side were second best as they missed out on a place in the final of the AFC U23 Championship Thailand 2020 on Wednesday after slipping to a 2-0 loss to a dynamic Korea Republic.

The Australians were outplayed for much of the 90 minutes at Thammasat Stadium, with goals from Kim Dae-won and Lee Dong-gyeong taking the Koreans into the final while Arnold’s side will face Uzbekistan in the third place play-off on Saturday.

In addition to the bronze medal, Asia’s third berth at the Tokyo Olympic Games will be on the line and Arnold will attempt to lift his players as he looks to qualify the country for the global extravaganza for the first time since 2008.

Mental strength key to Australia’s Olympic hopes, says Glover

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Mental strength key to Australia’s Olympic hopes, says Glover

Bangkok: Thomas Glover says Australia must be mentally prepared for their AFC U23 Championship Thailand 2020 third place play-off against Uzbekistan after suffering semi-final heartbreak on Wednesday.

The Olyroos were defeated 2-0 by an impressive Korea Republic at the Thammasat Stadium and have to win against Uzbekistan - who lost 1-0 to Saudi Arabia in the other semi-final - on Saturday to confirm their ticket to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Drulovic issues Uzbekistan rallying cry after semi-final woe

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Drulovic issues Uzbekistan rallying cry after semi-final woe

Bangkok: After seeing Uzbekistan’s AFC U23 Championship Thailand 2020 title aspirations undone thanks to a 1-0 semi-final loss to Saudi Arabia, head coach Ljubinko Drulovic has called on his players to show their true character when they go up against Australia with a place at this year’s Olympic Games still up for grabs.

A late Nasser Al Omran effort ultimately proved Uzbekistan’s undoing as the 2018 champions had their dreams of retaining the Continental crown shattered by their in-form opponents.

While the win guaranteed Saudi Arabia a place at Tokyo 2020, Uzbekistan will also be assured of their ticket to the global extravaganza should they beat the Olyroos, who lost to Korea Republic in the competition’s other last four showdown, on Saturday.

Road to Final: Korea Republic

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Road to Final: Korea Republic

Bangkok: Korea Republic are one match away from winning the AFC U23 Championship Thailand 2020 title after having finished runners-up once and fourth twice in the previous three editions.

Kim Hak-bum's side have hardly put a foot wrong in Thailand 2020, advancing to Sunday's decider against Saudi Arabia with a perfect record of five wins.

With the final fast approaching, the-AFC.com takes a look at how 2018 Asian Games champions Korea Republic got there.

Road to Final: Saudi Arabia

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Road to Final: Saudi Arabia

Bangkok: Having finished runners-up in the inaugural edition of the AFC U23 Championship in 2013/14, Saudi Arabia did not advance past the group stage in the subsequent two tournaments.

The West Asians, however, came to Bangkok determined to win the title and made known their intentions from the very start with a commanding opening win against Japan.

They are now just one match away from adding the AFC U23 Championship title to the AFC U-19 Championship crown won in 2018 and the-AFC.com retraces how Saudi Arabia got to the Thailand 2020 final.