Glory duo Cameron Cook and Keegan Jelacic have both been named in the Australia Under-23 squad (Subway Olyroos) which will travel to Italy for a training camp during the upcoming FIFA Men’s International window from 20 – 28 March.
The camp, to be held at the Australian Institute of Sport European Training Centre located in Gavirate, Varese in Northern Italy, forms part of the Subway Olyroos’ preparations for their bid to qualify for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
That bid starts with the AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024 Qualifiers which are scheduled for 4 – 12 September 2023 and if the team progresses, next on the agenda is AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024 in early 2024 (dates to be confirmed by AFC) which double as Paris 2024 Olympics qualifiers.
Head Coach Tony Vidmar is looking forward to having an opportunity to cast a close eye over the country’s most gifted young prospects.
“We have selected an exciting squad of 24 players for this camp in Italy, which is reward for their strong performances in the
A-League Men’s competition and their respective club sides overseas,” he said.
“As a squad, we only have a small window of time to prepare for our AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers, with this camp being one
of only two we will have prior to September.
“So this time at the Australian Institute of Sport European Training Centre will be an important opportunity for the players we’ve not seen for some time to impress the coaching staff for future selection.”
As part of the nine-day camp, the Subway Olyroos will play two friendly matches against quality opposition in the form of the
Switzerland U-21 national team in Bellinzona, Switzerland on Friday 24 March (7.00pm local time) and Serie B outfit, Como 1907 (venue TBC) on Monday 27 March (3.00pm local time).
“Holding this camp in Europe has provided us with the opportunity to organise two matches against top-level competition,
which we need when you consider it’s almost nine months since the Olyroos last played together,” continued Vidmar.
“Being able to give all players the chance to test themselves against quality teams is important leading into the AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers in September and the AFC U-23 Asian Cup early next year, which double as Paris 2024 Olympic Qualifiers.”
The Subway Olyroos will come together again from 2 – 18 June, when they contest the Maurice Revello Tournament 2023 in
Aix-en-Provence, France.
This event features twelve U-23 national men’s teams from five Confederations, where it’s expected that Australia will play at least four matches across the 16-days, providing ideal tournament preparation ahead of the September qualifiers.
The draw for the AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024Ô qualifiers is set to take place in May.
Cook and Jelacic have been mainstays of Glory’s A-League campaign so far this season, starting ten and 14 games respectively.
Both also recently signed long-term deals with the club.
They will be joined in the squad by ex-Glory midfielder, Jacob Italiano.
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