Road to Bejing - Olyroos 2008

[Tassiemariner]

Thought i'd start an olyroos thread for there massive year.

First off a friendly against Mexico on March 2.

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/olyroos-line-up-mexico-match-106979/



The Olyroos will begin preparations for the Beijing Olympics with an international against Mexico in San Francisco next month.

The March 2 clash will be the first outing for the Australian Under-23s since qualifying for the Games last November following an arduous 14-match campaign.


The squad contains two overseas based players - Adrian Leijer of English Premier League club Fulham and striker David Williams from Danish-club Brondby - with 22 of the remaining 23 players from the A-League.

Wollongong Wolves goalkeeper Justin Pasfield is the only player to be selected from one the State run Premier League competitions.

Nine players from the Central Coast Mariners and Newcastle Jets have been selected, with those players to join the squad on Monday following Sunday's grand final.

There are several new faces in the squad, including Mariners striker Matt Simon, Melbourne Victory defender and Young Socceroo captain Sebastian Ryall, Queensland Roar attacker Tahj Minniecon, and Newcastle Jets pair Tarek Elrich and James Holland.

Players not considered due to injury include Adelaide United's Kristian Sarkies, Melbourne Victory's Nick Ward and Roar's Robbie Kruse.

The draw for the Beijing Olympics will be held on April 20.

Olyroos squad: Nigel Boogaard (Central Coast Mariners), Leigh Broxham (Melbourne Victory), Mark Bridge (Newcastle Jets), Nathan Burns (Adelaide United), Billy Celeski (Melbourne Victory), Robert Cornthwaite (Adelaide United), Adam DApuzzo (Newcastle Jets), Bruce Djite (Adelaide United), Tarek Elrich (Newcastle Jets), Troy Hearfield (Newcastle Jets), James Holland (Newcastle Jets), Adrian Leijer (Fulham, England), Mark Milligan (Sydney FC), Tahj Minniecon (Queensland Roar), Stuart Musialik (Newcastle Jets), Justin Pasfield (Wollongong Wolves, NSW), Nikita Rukavytsya (Perth Glory), Sebastian Ryall (Melbourne Victory), Matt Simon (Central Coast Mariners), Nikolai Topor-Stanley (Perth Glory), Tando Velaphi (Perth Glory), Danny Vukovic (Central Coast Mariners), David Williams (Brondby, Denmark), Ruben Zadkovich (Sydney FC), Michael Zullo (Queensland Roar).

 

[Omni]

Why not take on the US under 23s too? Surely they exist even if they suck.

Hopefully a couple of games against the kiwis too.

 

[marinermick]

no mad monday for a stack of central coast and newcastle players

they must be spewing!

 

[Jesus]

I thought it had already been said that the olyroos will play mexico and the yanks?

 

[Omni]

I don't think that'll srop them totally Mick!

I haven't heard the Yanks one.

 

[kevrenor]

From another source:

"Just had a call from a good friend who lives in San Fransisco. He's just left the stadium.
Said Olyroos fell behind to an own goal but equalised in the dying minutes for 1-1 finish.
Said stadium was sold out - somewhere between 50/60,000 capacity.
Apart from about 50 Aussie supporters, the rest were Mexicans it seemed.
Not a bad result I reckon as I understand there were a few Euro based
players that didn't show, on top of Vukovic, Musailik and Milligan.
Don"

Also word that the Olyroos may play against Singapore later this month.

 

[Tassiemariner]

FSN said 47,000 crowd. Great result without Vukovic, Milligan, Musalik, Bridge, Troisi, Killkenny etc.

 

[bathurstmariner]

From 442:

http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/71263,olyroos-in-mexican-standoff.aspx

Olyroos In Mexican Stand-Off
 
A LATE goal from substitute Troy Heartfield has given the Olyroos a draw against the Mexican under-23 side in a friendly held in Oakland, California.

The Mexicans, who scheduled this meeting as a warm up for their final round of Olympic qualifying later this month, began the better of the two sides. Wide players Cesar Villaluz and Pablo Barrera bombed in several early crosses, but were easily dealt with by Olyroos captain Adrian Leijer, who showed hes still sharp despite riding the pine at Fulham all season.

The first real chance of the game came when Newcastle Jets midfielder James Holland, in his first outing as an Olyroo, made a clumsy challenge on the edge of the box. But the resulting free kick was hammered into the Australian wall.

The Aussies, who have already qualified for the Olympic Games, continued to be troubled by the Mexican wide players. In the 18th minute Edgar Castillo broke down the left and fired in a close-range cross. The ball cannoned into Adam DApuzzo and then the back of the net, registering an own goal for the Newcastle Jets defender.

Spurred on by the goal and over 40,000 fans, who appropriately broke into a Mexican wave, El Tri began to take control of the match, but poor finishing kept Australia in it.

Australias only real chance of the first stanza came from a set piece when the ever-dangerous Nathan Burns was taken down just outside the area. But Billy Celeskis shot couldnt penetrate the Mexican Wall.

Bruce Djite spent most of the half isolated up front as the other attacking players Burns and David Willams worked back to help out in defence.

Australia started the second period better, with Williams making two sparkling runs into the box, only to be let down by his first touch. Burns similarly fluffed a good opportunity of his own.

At the other end Mexico should have doubled their lead as substitute Luis Landin found himself one on one with debutant goalkeeper Tando Velaphi in the 72nd minute. But the Perth Glory shot-stopper, who performed exceptionally all match, pulled out an excellent save.

Australia continued to press and gained parity in the 88th minute through a brilliantly worked set play. From a throw-in Captain Adrian Leijer deftly headed the ball on to Troy Heartfield who was waiting at the back stick. He made no mistake with a sweet volley. This capped off a week to remember for the Jets midfielder, who had barely finished celebrating Newcastles victory in the A-League Grand Final.

Match Details:
Australia 1 (Troy Hearfield 88')
Mexico 1 (Adam D'Apuzzo own goal 18')

Australia line-up: Tando Velaphi; Ruben Zadkovich, Adrian Leijer, Leigh Broxham (Robert Cornthwaite 85), Adam D'Apuzzo (Nigel Boogaard 53'), Nikolai Topor-Stanley, David Williams (Jason Hoffman 75'), Billy Celeski (Troy Hearfield 75'), Bruce Djite (Matt Simon 72), Nathan Burns (Nikita Rukavytsya 72), James Holland (Tarek Elrich 60').

Mexico line-up: Guillermo OCha; Julio Csar Domnguez, Hugo Ayala, Francisco Gamboa (Luis Omar Hernndez 46'), Patricio Araujo, Edgar Castillo, Csar Villaluz, Sergio vila (Edgar Andrade 46'), Pablo Barrera (Omar Arellano 78'), Enrique Esqueda (Alan Zamora 78'), Santiago Fernndez (Luis ngel Landn 46').

Venue: McAfee Coliseum, Oakland, San Francisco
Attendance: 47,440

 

[bathurstmariner]

Also from 442:

Arnold: 'The Future Is Bright'
 
Dan Hirst
Mar 3 2008 14:41

COACH Graham Arnold was full of optimism about the future of Australian football after watching his makeshift Olyroos side snatch a 1-1 draw in a friendly against Mexicos under-23s.

Asked whether he was pleased with his sides performance Arnold joked: Of course, we scored both goals didnt we? referring to Adam DApuzzos own goal which gave Mexico an early lead. The coach went on to praise the maturity of his young charges.

We had ten players in the squad that are only 19 years-of-age, a lot of the European-based players are missing and some guys are on debut. And we pushed [Mexico] all the way. And they are a good side, pumped up and ready to play their qualifiers in a couple of weeks.

Arnold reserved individual praise for keeper Tando Velaphi. The 20-year-old replaced Central Coasts Danny Vukovic who is back in Australia awaiting an appeal to a ban resulting from his indiscretions at last weekends A-League Grand Final. The young Perth Glory keeper had an excellent game between the sticks, pulling off several match-saving blocks and looking decisive and commanding throughout.

Hes always been second behind Vuka and today he got his chance and was just outstanding.

Graham Arnold also lauded the efforts of 18-year-old Newcastle Jet James Holland, who played a full game in the heart of midfield and showed no nerves on debut in front of a raucous crowd of over 40,000 Mexican fans. Two of Hollands Newcastle teammates, Tarek Elrich and Jason Hoffman, also made their debut coming off the bench in the second half. The Jets capped off a great week with midfielder Troy Hearfield scoring the equaliser with a sweetly-timed volley.

Captain Adrian Leijer, who has been at English Premier League side Fulham this season, was one of only two European-based players on the park, the other being David Williams. The former Melbourne Victory defender says he was impressed by the young talent emerging in the A-League.

The young guys did really well. Theres a lot of talent coming through in Australia. I hadnt seen many of them play before this week and I was impressed. Theres going to be a lot of competition now for spots in Beijing, with all these young guys impressing Arnie.

Despite being pleased with the overall performance, Graham Arnold singled out fitness as the main aspect of the game that the Olyroos need to work on, with some players showing tired legs by the end of the match.

That was a great lesson on fitness. You cant play at A-League fitness levels in international football. We have 120 days before we announce our squad and a hundred of those will be working on physical fitness, to get them ready.

 

[bathurstmariner]

Sorry getting a bit post happy but here are two photos of Boogs and Matty Simon in action:

 

[fedelta]

Matty Simon in an Australian jersey.. will be a regular sight in years to come

 

[ryan]

Congratulations to Matty and Boogs. Debuts for both of them wasn't it?

 

[fedelta]

I think Boogs has been in the squad before?

 

[marinersman]

FSN said 47,000 crowd. Great result without Vukovic, Milligan, Musalik, Bridge, Troisi, Killkenny etc.

Better side without the monkey boy I reckon.

The rest you mentioned are definitely losses from the side though.

 

[FFC Mariner]

Boogs will be a regular starter with Princess for the U23's and we will see him progress to the senior squad 1 day.

S Africa 2010

Danny
Boogs
Jedi
Meggsi

4 Mariners at the WC

 

[serious14]

The draw for the Football Tournament at the Olympics was earlier tonight - the Olyroos received the following 3 teams in their group:

Serbia
Argentina
Ivory Coast

Argentina will murder us (PATO!!!  ), so methinks that 2nd in the group will do just fine.

We play in Shanghai on the 7th and the 10th August, and the third game will either be in Beijing or Tianjin.

 

[Gav...]

Olympic Football Draw 2008

Mens

Group A - Cote D'Ivoire, Argentina, Australia, Serbia

Group B - The Netherlands, Nigeria, Japan, USA

Group C - China, New Zealand, Brazil, Belgium

Group D -  Korea, Cameroon, Honduras, Italy

Womens

Group E - China, Sweeden, Argentina, Canada

Group F - DPR Korea, Nigeria, Germany, Brazil

Group G - Norway, USA, Japan, New Zealand

 

[Tassiemariner]

The draw for the Football Tournament at the Olympics was earlier tonight - the Olyroos received the following 3 teams in their group:

Serbia
Argentina
Ivory Coast

Argentina will murder us (PATO!!!  ), so methinks that 2nd in the group will do just fine.

Doesn't Pato play for brazil??

Ivory coast vs Australia will decide the group.

 

[brett]

The draw for the Football Tournament at the Olympics was earlier tonight - the Olyroos received the following 3 teams in their group:

Serbia
Argentina
Ivory Coast

Argentina will murder us (PATO!!!  ), so methinks that 2nd in the group will do just fine.

Doesn't Pato play for brazil??

Ivory coast vs Australia will decide the group.

Yes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandre_Pato

and no, I think Australia vs Serbia will decide the group.

 

[serious14]

Hahaha, oops...... I just remember watching the Under 19 World Cup on Malaysian TV during the Asian Cup and hearing the name "Pato" a lot, and for the life of me I could have sworn he was Argentinean.

Well, I feel sorry for Group C then.