Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Sydney: Josep Gombau has on Monday named a 26-man Australian U23 squad for a three-day training camp, which will be held on the Central Coast, New South Wales from January 30 to February 1.
The camp is the first part of preparation for the 2018 AFC U23 Championship, which will stage its qualifiers in July 2017.
The squad is made up of players eligible for the 2018 AFC U23 Championship and all 26 players are from A-League clubs, said a media release from Football Federation Australia.
A second camp will be held in March in Europe and only involve overseas-based players unless agreed with any individual club for locally based players.
This camp and qualification for the 2018 AFC U23 Championship is viewed as an important part of the development of the next generation of Socceroos by the national team coaching staff, led by coach Ange Postecoglou.
A-League clubs were informed of the details of the camp last week and players were selected following the conclusion of the Round 16 A-League matches over the weekend.
Players will arrive in Gosford in time to start training on Monday morning (January 30) and released from camp following training on Wednesday, meaning minimal disruption to the A-League.
“This is the first step for us to qualify for the AFC U23 Championship in 2018,” Gombau said. “I’m excited to be working with these young players who are only one step away from playing with the Socceroos.
“Many of them are playing good football in the A-League and we will be able to see them working together to start building the understanding required to succeed in the Championship qualifiers and also observe how they train in the systems we want to play.
“Qualifying for Asian Cups and World Cups is an important part of the development of young players and for football in Australia and this camp is our first preparation opportunity leading into the July qualifiers.”
Australian U23 squad for the three-day camp
Name - Club
Daniel ARZANI - Melbourne City FC
Jonathan ASPROPOTAMITIS - Western Sydney Wanderers FC
Keanu BACCUS - Western Sydney Wanderers FC
Adam BERRY - Central Coast Mariners
George BLACKWOOD - Sydney FC
Trent BUHAGIAR - Central Coast Mariners
Devante CLUT - Newcastle Jets
Nicholas COWBURN - Newcastle Jets
Scott GALLOWAY - Central Coast Mariners
Benjamin GARUCCIO - Adelaide United
Paul IZZO - Central Coast Mariners
Lachlan JACKSON - Newcastle Jets
Bruce KAMAU - Melbourne City FC
Abraham MAJOK - Western Sydney Wanderers FC
Daniel MARGUSH - Adelaide United
Riley McGREE - Adelaide United
Jordan O’DOHERTY - Adelaide United
Liam ROSE - Central Coast Mariners
Kye ROWLES - Brisbane Roar FC
Lachlan SCOTT - Western Sydney Wanderers FC
Mario SHABOW - Western Sydney Wanderers FC
Jaushua SOTIRIO - Western Sydney Wanderers FC
Jordan THURTELL - Perth Glory
Ruon TONGYIK - Melbourne City FC
Brandon WILSON - Perth Glory
Liam YOULLEY - Western Sydney Wanderers FC
Australia U-23 coaching staff
Head Coach: Josep Gombau
Assistant Coach: Ufuk Talay
Goalkeeper Coach: Peter Blazincic