Socceroo_06
August 2nd, 2006, 09:36 AM
Australia U20 squad named for South America tour
Australia U20 coach Ang Postecoglou has named a 20-player squad for a five-match tour of South America.
Australia departed today for Chile today with their first match on Thursday against Colo Colo, before a second match in Santiago against Universidad de Chile. Three international matches will be the highlight of the tour firstly against Argentina (9 Aug), then two internationals against Chile (12 and 14 Aug).
"Undoubtedly this tour will be difficult but I am sure we will learn a lot from it and that it will prove to be an invaluable experience ahead of the qualifiers later in the year," said Postecoglou.
"This is quite a crucial tour for the team with the qualifiers looming.
"A tour of South America always provides a good gauge as to how the team is traveling.
"The good thing about this campaign is that we are doing this kind of preparation prior to the qualifiers, which puts well ahead of where we have been in the past in terms of knowing the capabilities of the players at a high level."
The Australian touring squad is:
Aleks Vrteski (Perth Glory), Steven O'Dor, Peter Eleftherakis, Matthew Spiranovic, Shaun Ontong (all AIS), Ben Vidaic (Sydney United), James Downey (AIS), Troy Hearfield (Newcastle Jets), Bruce Djite (AIS), Nathan Burns (Adelaide United), Evan Berger, Mitchell Langerak, Chris Grossman, Robbie Kruse, Cameron Watson (all AIS), Tarek Elrich (Newcastle Jets), Brad Porter, Oliver Bozanic (both Central Coast Mariners), Ryan McGowan (SASI - South Australian Sports Institute), Sebastian Ryall (NSWIS - New South Wales Institute of Sport)
Australia U20 coach Ang Postecoglou has named a 20-player squad for a five-match tour of South America.
Australia departed today for Chile today with their first match on Thursday against Colo Colo, before a second match in Santiago against Universidad de Chile. Three international matches will be the highlight of the tour firstly against Argentina (9 Aug), then two internationals against Chile (12 and 14 Aug).
"Undoubtedly this tour will be difficult but I am sure we will learn a lot from it and that it will prove to be an invaluable experience ahead of the qualifiers later in the year," said Postecoglou.
"This is quite a crucial tour for the team with the qualifiers looming.
"A tour of South America always provides a good gauge as to how the team is traveling.
"The good thing about this campaign is that we are doing this kind of preparation prior to the qualifiers, which puts well ahead of where we have been in the past in terms of knowing the capabilities of the players at a high level."
The Australian touring squad is:
Aleks Vrteski (Perth Glory), Steven O'Dor, Peter Eleftherakis, Matthew Spiranovic, Shaun Ontong (all AIS), Ben Vidaic (Sydney United), James Downey (AIS), Troy Hearfield (Newcastle Jets), Bruce Djite (AIS), Nathan Burns (Adelaide United), Evan Berger, Mitchell Langerak, Chris Grossman, Robbie Kruse, Cameron Watson (all AIS), Tarek Elrich (Newcastle Jets), Brad Porter, Oliver Bozanic (both Central Coast Mariners), Ryan McGowan (SASI - South Australian Sports Institute), Sebastian Ryall (NSWIS - New South Wales Institute of Sport)