Qantas Under 23s in camp as crucial Olympic

[alicia]

Qantas Under 23s in camp as crucial Olympic qualifiers loom
Monday, 5 November 2007

Qantas Under 23s coach Graham Arnold will conduct a three day camp in Sydney commencing today ahead of Saturday week’s crucial Olympic Games qualifier against Iraq in Gosford.

Australia currently sit equal first with Asian champions Iraq at the top of the group table with two matches remaining, with Iraq holding a narrow lead on goal difference and only the top team in the group to qualify. Australia will then face DPR (North) Korea in Pyongyang in their final outing four days later which will be a vital match regardless of the result in Gosford.

The squad of domestic-based players only will train on an artificial surface at Seymour Shaw Park in Sydney having received late notice that the match at the Kim Il Sung Stadium in Pyongyang is also to be played on an artificial surface.

“This camp although short will be the only opportunity for the players to practice on and get a feel for an artificial surface which will be similar to that which we will experience in Pyongyang,” says Arnold.

“The camp will also give me a vital opportunity to work further with the players both on the pitch and through some video analysis prior to these two critical matches.

“It is a vital time for the team as qualification will be decided over these two matches so we appreciate the clubs understanding of the situation and realise that the season is at a delicate stage for all clubs involved.”

A number of players will be absent through injury including Newcastle Jets midfielder Stuart Musialik (appendix), Adelaide United defender Robert Cornthwaite (foot), and Queensland Roar duo Michael Zullo (knee) and Robbie Kruse (groin). Roar midfielder Mitch Nichols was also set to be drafted into camp but has instead traveled to Vietnam to join the Qantas Young Socceroos squad as injury cover.

The 17-man squad for the training camp in Sydney, November 5-7:
Nigel Boogaard (Central Coast Mariners), Leigh Broxham (Melbourne Victory), Mark Bridge (Newcastle Jets), Nathan Burns (Adelaide United), Billy Celeski (Perth Glory), Adam D’Apuzzo (Newcastle Jets), Dez Giraldi (Adelaide United), Troy Hearfield (Newcastle Jets), David Micevski (Perth Glory), Mark Milligan (Sydney FC), Kristian Sarkies (Adelaide United), Jordan Simpson (Perth Glory), Nikolai Topor-Stanley (Perth Glory), Matthew Trott (Central Coast Mariners), Tando Velaphi (Perth Glory), Danny Vukovic (Central Coast Mariners), Ruben Zadkovich (Sydney FC)

Australia progressed past Chinese Taipei in the preliminary stage of qualifying and finished ahead of Iran and Jordan to qualify alongside Saudi Arabia for the third stage.

TICKETS
Tickets the match in Gosford are on sale now from Ticketek outlets; from the Ticketek website – www.ticketek.com.au, or via phone on 132 849.

Central Coast Mariners, Newcastle Jets and Sydney FC members can obtain discounted tickets. This offer is available via Ticketek outlets and is applicable to pre purchased tickets only.

TV
Delayed coverage of the match on SBS TV, 10:15pm-12:15am, Saturday 17 October

Source: www.footballaustralia.com.au/InsideFFA/default.aspx?s=insideffa_newsfeatures_newsitem&id=20060

[dibo (pron. "DIB-OH")]

good stuff boogs, trotty and vuko!

[EGGBA]

Does that mean we will lose both trotty and danny
doubt boogs will participate i think he's out for a while calf injury

[alicia]

eggsta said:

Does that mean we will lose both trotty and danny
doubt boogs will participate i think he's out for a while calf injury

It's only a three day camp. They'll be available for any club training Thursday, Friday, then we play Saturday.

As you said, probably no Boogs.

[EGGBA]

What about when the matches actually come around surely we cant send both keepers away on oly duty ::)redmayne start training it must say something about the lack of young goaly deapth if our back up keeper whos played what 3-4 games yes trotts good but is there no one else that qualifys

[mariners4ever]

what bout porter he should be in the squad

[Pete]

Porter's good work vs. Melbourne was probably too little too late.

Suspect Boogs will miss at least the Iraq match.

Danny AND Trott? Hell, young Redmayne better start pinching himself if both go into the match squads. BTW, who would be the reserve goalie....Bearinator? ;D

Nonetheless, a great testimony to the work that Crawley has been doing for the goalkeepers in our squad.

[omni]

They'd probably just nominate an outfield player who won't get on the bench as the Goalkeeper reserve if that eventuated. I think Velaphi will be the reserve though, if only as a way to make sure both keepers aren't from the one club, he has been in the past but you never know.