The Australian Olympic Committee has announced the 18 men who will be donning the Aussie jersey in Tokyo in a quest for Olympic Glory in Soccer… Sorry Cleggy… Football.
It has been a long time between drinks for the renamed Ollyroos/Socceroos who last played at the Olympics in Beijing in 2008. The Olympic tournament has an under 23 age limit with only 3 overage players allowed per team. However, with the delay to the Olympics there has been a slight extension on this rule.
Australia qualified for the Olympics in January 2020 when Nicholas D’Agostino slotted the goal against Uzbekistan that gave the Australians the win in Thailand at the Asian Qualifying Tournament.
Coach Graham Arnold told socceroos.com.au that he felt the team could shock the world in Tokyo, stating “My expectations are that we are going to shock the world and we are going to go out there, play on the front foot, we’re not going to go out there trying not to lose the game, we are going out there expecting to win the game and it doesn’t matter who we play.”.
Graham Arnold set to lead the Australian’s in Tokyo
The line-up features players currently playing professionally in Asia, Europe, The Middle East, and of course right here in the A-League.
The team is as follows:
Daniel Arzani – Forward – 22 (Manchester City – Currently on loan at AGF)
Nathaniel Atkinson – Defender – 22 (Melbourne City)
Keanu Baccus – Midfielder – 23 (Western Sydney Wanderers)
Nicholas D’Agostino – Forward – 23 (Perth Glory)
Thomas Deng – Defender – 24 (Urawa Red Diamonds)
Mitchell Duke* – Forward – 30 (Al-Taawoun – Currently on loan at Western Sydney Wanderers)
Denis Genreau – Midfielder – 22 (Macarthur FC)
Thomas Glover – Goalkeeper – 23 (Melbourne City)
Joel King – Defender – 20 (Sydney FC)
Ashley Maynard-Brewer – Goalkeeper – 22 (Charlton Athletic – Currently on loan at Dover Athletic)
Riley McGree – Midfielder – 22 (Charlotte FC – Currently on loan at Birmingham City)
Connor Metcalfe – Midfielder – 21 (Melbourne City)
Dylan Pierias – Midfielder – 21 (Western United)
Reno Piscopo – Forward – 23 (Wellington Phoenix)
Kye Rowles – Defender – 23 (Central Coast Mariners)
Harry Souttar – Defender – 22 (Stoke City)
Ruon Tongyik* – Defender – 24 (Central Coast Mariners)
Caleb Watts – Midfielder – 19 (Southampton)