A selection of Australia’s finest U18 footballers commence their 2018 SBS Cup campaign in Japan tomorrow evening.
Ante Milicic’s side take on the host nation at Fujieda Stadium at 7.30pm kick off (AEST).
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Australia will then face Paraguay on Friday at 7.30pm (AEST), before rounding off the tournament against a Shizuoka Selection on Sunday.
Here’s everything you need to know about the tournament:
THE SBS CUP
The Shizuoka Broadcasting System (SBS) Cup began in 1977 as a series of friendly matches between South Korean and Japanese high schools.
It was expanded in 1979 and since 2002 has been a round-robin tournament for national teams and a representative side from the Shizuoka Prefecture, where the competition is based.
The Cup is for players born in the year 2000, which means a slightly younger group of players than the current Young Socceroos group will have the chance to be exposed to international competition and push their case for inclusion in the Young Socceroos’ squad for the 2018 AFC U19 Championship, which will be held in Indonesia later this year.
The current champions of the SBS Cup are Chile, who bested Czech Republic and Shizuoka Prefecture in the 2017 edition of the tournament.
OUR PLAYERS
There will be several players who have made Hyundai A-League appearances travelling to Japan, including Melbourne City fullback Dylan Pierias and Perth Glory’s Borussia Monchengladbach-bound attacker Jacob Italiano.
Other players to watch out for include highly rated Western Sydney Wanderers attacker Kosta Grozos, who has earned big plaudits for his performances at youth level.
Melbourne City pairing Ramy Najjarine and Moudi Najjar are also highly anticipated talents who are currently part of Melbourne City's youth team. A duo of gifted attacking players, they will be keen to impress at the tournament and emulate the rise of Daniel Arzani after watching their former teammate's rise to stardom.
OUR HISTORY IN THE TOURNAMENT
The 2018 SBS Cup will be Australia's third appearance at the annual tournament.
The Young Socceroos finished third in 2008 facing off against Argentina, Japan and Shizuoka Prefecture.
While in 2011, they finished fourth out of Mexico, Japan and Shizuoka Prefecture.
MATCH SCHEDULE
Japan U18 v Australia U18
Date: Thursday, 16 August 2018
Kick-off: 6.30pm (local), 7.30pm (AEST)
Venue: Fujieda Stadium, Shizuoka, Japan
Paraguay U18 v Australia U18
Date: Friday, 17 August 2018
Kick-off: 6.30pm (local), 7.30pm (AEST)
Venue: Ashitaka Athletic Park Stadium, Shizuoka, Japan
Shizuoka U18 v Australia U18
Date: Sunday, 19 August 2018
Kick-off: 3.00pm (local), 4.00pm (AEST)
Venue: Kusanagi Stadium, Shizuoka, Japan
OUR SQUAD
|
Name |
Current Club, Country |
|
Mohamed ADAM |
Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia |
|
Rahmat AKBARI |
Brisbane Roar FC, Australia |
|
Louis D’ARRIGO |
Adelaide United FC, Australia |
|
Kosta GROZOS |
Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia |
|
Jacob ITALIANO |
Perth Glory FC, Australia |
|
Joshua KELIC |
Unattached |
|
Joel KING |
Sydney FC, Australia |
|
Jackson LEE |
Perth Glory FC, Australia |
|
Anthony LESIOTIS |
Melbourne City FC, Australia |
|
Leo MAZIS |
Glasgow Celtic FC, Scotland |
|
Mersim MEMETI |
Dandenong Thunder SC, Australia |
|
Moudi NAJJAR |
Melbourne City FC, Australia |
|
Ramy NAJJARINE |
Melbourne City FC, Australia |
|
Noah PAGDEN |
Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia |
|
Dylan PIERIAS |
Melbourne City FC, Australia |
|
John ROBERTS |
Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia |
|
Nicholas SUMAN |
Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia |
|
Kai TREWIN |
Brisbane Roar FC, Australia |
