Joint training camp for Qantas Young Socceroos and Olyroos

Qantas Olyroos Head Coach Aurelio Vidmar and Qantas Young Socceroos Head Coach Jan Versleijen today announced a joint 31-player squad that will go into a training camp at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra next week (9th to 14th May 2011).

Qantas Olyroos Head Coach Aurelio Vidmar and Qantas Young Socceroos Head Coach Jan Versleijen today announced a joint 31-player squad that will go into a training camp at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra next week (9th to 14th May 2011). This will be the last Australian-based training camp before both teams head overseas later in the month to continue their respective preparations.

The Qantas Olyroos will travel to Japan at the end of the month to play an international friendly match against the Japanese U-23 National team in Niigata, whilst the Qantas Young Socceroos will head to Europe to train and compete at the Terborg Tournament (www.terborgtoernooi.nl).

Tom Rogic, Adam Jenner and Ryan Edwards have been added to the squad which gathered in Melbourne last week, as well as goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis who has recently come off contract with Liverpool FC. Mate Dugandzic returns to the squad after recovering from an injury, but a slight calf strain will prevent Tahj Minniecon from joining the camp and Brian Bran has not been re-selected.

Aurelio Vidmar is very pleased with the progress made over the past two camps and will use this camp to finalise his squad for the upcoming match against the Japanese.

“We have turned the corner in terms of our match fitness after the last camp but, as seen in our training match against Melbourne Victory last week, we are not quite there yet.

“Against Victory, our first half was excellent, but we started to tire in the second half. We will need to build on that to be competitive.

“We are at a critical point in our preparations and we will continue to work on our shape and structure.

“The players need to assert themselves next week to guarantee their place on the plane to Japan and then the qualifiers,” concluded Vidmar.

After learning the draw for the FIFA U-20 World Cup last week, Jan Versleijen can now focus his attention on the group opponents.

“The past two camps have given me a good idea on the technical and tactical ability of the players and by the end of the second camp I noticed a marked improvement in the group.

“This camp will be more decisive and I will be looking to confirm the players for our upcoming tour to Europe which will comprise local and overseas-based players.

“We are getting closer to the World Cup, the players and staff are getting excited about the prospect of playing against the best in the world and the competition for places is getting tougher,” concluded Versleijen.

This is the last of a series of training camps for Australian-based players to prepare for the upcoming 2012 London Olympic Games Asian Qualifiers and FIFA U-20 World Cup Colombia 2011.

The Qantas Olyroos will face Yemen in the second round of the 2012 London Olympic Games Asian Qualifiers on the 19th and 23rd June 2011 with the venues to be confirmed at a later date.

The Qantas Young Socceroos will compete at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Colombia 2011 which commences on the 29th July with the final to be played on the 20th August.

Qantas Olyroos and Qantas Young Socceroos - Combined Squad List AIS Camp - 9 to 14 May 2011

Name Club Date of Birth

Matthew Acton (gk) - Brisbane Roar - 3/6/1992 Mustafa Amini - Central Coast Mariners - 20/4/1993 Terry Antonis - Sydney FC - 15/11/1993 Eli Babalj - Melbourne Heart - 21/2/1992 Jake Barker-Daish - Gold Coast United - 7/5/1993 Aziz Behich - Melbourne Heart - 16/12/1990 Mark Birighitti (gk) - Adelaide United - 17/4/1991 Oliver Bozanic - Central Coast Mariners - 8/1/1989 Dean Bouzanis (gk) - Unregistered - 2/10/1990 Daniel Bowles - Brisbane Roar - 19/10/1991 Mate Dugandzic - Melbourne Heart - 22/10/1989 Ryan Edwards - Unregistered - 17/11/1993 Sam Gallagher - Central Coast Mariners - 5/5/1991 Jason Geria - AIS - 10/5/1993 Curtis Good - Melbourne Heart - 23/3/1993 Brendan Hamill - Melbourne Heart - 18/9/1992 Jack Hingert - Dandenong Thunder (VPL) - 26/9/1990 Jason Hoffman - Melbourne Heart - 28/1/1989 Bernie Ibini-Isei - Central Coast Mariners - 12/9/1992 Adam Jenner - Blacktown City FC (NSWPL) - 12/3/1992 Marko Jesic - Newcastle Jets - 7/8/1989 Golgol Mebrahtu - Gold Coast United - 28/8/1990 Scott Neville - Perth Glory - 11/1/1989 Mitch Nichols - Brisbane Roar - 5/1/1989 Mirjan Pavlovic - Wellington Phoenix - 21/4/1989 Andrew Redmayne (gk) - Brisbane Roar - 13/1/1989 Tom Rogic Belconnen United - (ACTPL) - 16/12/1992 Mathew Ryan (gk) - Central Coast Mariners - 8/4/1992 Trent Sainsbury - Central Coast Mariners - 5/1/1992 James Virgili - Newcastle Jets - 8/7/1992 Rocco Visconte - Brisbane Roar - 22/4/1990