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Vidmar names Olyroos squad to start on road to Rio 2016 Olympic Games

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The road to the 2016 Olympic Games will officially start this month with the Australian U-23 Men’s Football Team (Olyroos) Head Coach Aurelio Vidmar today naming a 23-man squad for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Championship Qualifiers – Group F which will be played in Chinese Taipei.

Vidmar has named 11 players from the Hyundai A-League and 12 from overseas clubs for matches in Group F of AFC Qualifying against Hong Kong (27 March), Chinese Taipei (29 March) and Myanmar (31 March) in Kaohsiung City.

The squad includes 2014 FIFA World Cup striker Adam Taggart, 2015 AFC Asian Cup winner Terry Antonis, Liverpool FC’s Brad Smith and Empoli midfielder Josh Brillante as Vidmar looks to continue the resurgence of Australian Football.

“It’s exciting to start the qualification for the 2016 Olympic Games and we’ve put together a squad that has some good international experience and showing good form at club level, both in Australia and throughout Europe,” Vidmar said.

“The bulk of the squad played in the friendlies late last year when we defeated Korea Republic and drew with Brazil and we have been able to add some experienced firepower in Terry Antonis, Josh Brillante, Adam Taggart, Brad Smith, and Daniel Da Silva to that group.”

Vidmar will look to create the same environment and football structures, which propelled the Socceroos to victory in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup as part of the integration of the Australian National Teams structure.

“An important part of the changes that have been driven by Ange (Postecoglou) include aligning the structures of all the National teams to enable players to make a smooth transition through the age groups,” Vidmar said.

“The players will operate under the same conditions and structures as the Socceroos so they understand what is required to play international football, which will help in our endeavours to qualify for the Olympic Games but also assist with their development as footballers.”

The AFC U-23 Championship, which will be played in Qatar in 2016, also doubles as the qualification tournament for the 2016 Olympic Games. The top three (3) ranked teams from the AFC U-23 Championship qualifying for the 2016 Olympic Games Football Tournament.

To progress to the AFC U-23 Championship, the Olyroos need to finish top of Group F in Chinese Taipei or be one of the best five second place teams.

Olyroos coach Aurelio Vidmar on the sideline during the AFC U-22 Championship.

Olyroos squad for AFC U-23 Championship Qualifiers – Group F

Name

Club/Country

Mustafa AMINI

Borussia Dortmund, Germany

Terry ANTONIS

Sydney FC, Australia

Josh BRILLANTE

Empoli, Italy

Corey BROWN

Brisbane Roar, Australia

Cameron BURGESS

Ross County, Scotland

Daniel DE SILVA

Perth Glory, Australia

James DONACHIE

Brisbane Roar, Australia

Jack DUNCAN (gk)

Perth Glory, Australia

Ryan EDWARDS

Reading FC, England

Giancarlo GALLIFUOCO

Swansea FC, England

Scott GALLOWAY

Melbourne Victory, Australia

Jason GERIA

Melbourne Victory, Australia

John HALL (gk)

Adelaide United, Australia

Andrew HOOLE

Newcastle Jets, Australia

Jackson IRVINE

Ross County, Scotland

Aaron LENNOX (gk)

Queens Park Rangers, England

Jamie MACLAREN

Perth Glory, Australia

Connor PAIN

Melbourne Victory, Australia

Brad SMITH

Liverpool, England

Adam TAGGART

Fulham FC, England

Steven UGARKOVIC

NK Osijek, Croatia

Ryan WILLIAMS

Fulham FC, England

Kwame YEBOAH

Borussia Monchengladbach, Germany

Match Schedule

AFC U-23 Championship Qualifiers – Group F – Tournament Schedule

Group A

P

W

D

L

F

A

GD

Pts

Australia

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Chinese Taipei

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Hong Kong

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Myanmar

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

 

Date

Match

Venue

Kick-Off Local

Kick-Off

AEDT

27 March 2015

Australia v Hong Kong

National Stadium, Kaohsiung City

4:00pm

7:00pm

27 March 2015

Myanmar v Chinese Taipei

National Stadium, Kaohsiung City

7:00pm

10:00pm

29 March 2015

Hong Kong v Myanmar

National Stadium, Kaohsiung City

4:00pm

7:00pm

29 March 2015

Chinese Taipei v Australia

National Stadium, Kaohsiung City

7:00pm

10:00pm

31 March 2015

Australia v Myanmar

National Stadium, Kaohsiung City

4:00pm

7:00pm

31 March 2015

Chinese Taipei v Hong Kong

National Stadium, Kaohsiung City

7:00pm

10:00pm