Australia U-23 squad named to face New Zealand U-23

Gary van Egmond has named a 24-man squad for Australia U-23’s upcoming two-match series against New Zealand U-23 in Wollongong and Campbelltown.

The matches, to be played at WIN Stadium in Wollongong on Friday 6 September and in Campbelltown on Monday 9 September will serve as vital preparation ahead of the Olympic Games qualification tournament in January.

Melbourne City will boast five representatives in the squad, with Nathaniel Atkinson, Denis Genreau, Thomas Glover, Connor Metcalfe and Lachlan Wales combining for the largest representation from a Hyundai A-League club.

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Metcalfe is one of two players set to make their U-23’s debut should they take to the pitch, the other being Western Sydney Wanderers’ Tate Russell, who was born in Wollongong.

Hyundai A-League newcomers Western United, Adelaide United and Western Sydney Wanderers will all be represented by three players.

Young Socceroos Head Coach van Egmond, who will oversee the team for these games, says he has been working closely with Caltex Socceroos Head Coach Graham Arnold to select the strongest available squad for these important lead up matches.

Young Socceroos Head Coach van Egmond, who will oversee the team for these games, says he has been working closely with Caltex Socceroos Head Coach Graham Arnold to select the strongest available squad for these important lead up matches.

“This squad is starting to spend a lot of valuable time together, after the qualification tournament in March in Cambodia, these games in New South Wales and more planned before the end of the year, we think we will be well placed once the Olympic qualifiers come around,” he said.

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“The majority of our squad stems from the Hyundai A-League and it gives these young players an opportunity to continue to work towards a goal we have set, the first qualification at the Olympics for an Australian men’s team since 2008,” he said.

The Australian U-23s will travel to Thailand in January to compete in the 2020 AFC U-23 Championship where the top three teams will earn the right to join host nation Japan as Asia’s representatives at Tokyo 2020.

The New Zealand team will be aiming to qualify via the OFC U-23 Championship in September, where the winner will secure Oceania’s place in the tournament.

Australia U-23 24-Player Squad v New Zealand U-23

International Friendlies – Australia U-23 v New Zealand U-23

Date: Friday, 6 September 2019
Venue: WIN Stadium, Wollongong
Kick-off: 7.30pm AEST
Tickets: Available at www.socceroos.com.au

Date: Monday, 9 September 2019
Venue: Campbelltown Stadium, Campbelltown
Kick-off: 7.30pm AEST
Tickets: Available at www.socceroos.com.au

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