Joeys squad announced for next month's UEFA-hosted youth tournament in Turkey

Joeys Head Coach Trevor Morgan today confirmed Australia’s squad for next month’s UEFA-hosted youth tournament in Turkey.

Twenty of Australia’s best youth footballers will travel to Antalya in March for matches against the host nation (4 March), Tanzania (6 March), and Guinea (8 March).

The friendly tournament will provide the Joeys with crucial matches and time together ahead of October’s 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Peru.

Morgan’s squad includes 13 players aligned with Hyundai A-League clubs, five players based in Europe, and two players hailing from clubs in the New South Wales National Premier Leagues.

Walsh
Daniel Walsh.

Morgan said: “A key focus in the first half of 2019 is on searching for new talent to build depth in the Joeys. We need to have several options for each position, so competition is high for places at the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

“This tournament in Turkey provides much needed experience in high level games against teams we don’t normally get to play, and the opportunity for new players to show what they can do at international level.

“We have been monitoring many players over the past few months, speaking with club Technical Directors, and watching players as much as possible on video and live at matches and training. My recent trip to Europe has been fruitful, and the 20 players selected will include five overseas based players. This is not the end though, we know there are more players out there that deserve an opportunity.

“I’d like to thank the team at FFA who have been working towards establishing strong relationships with UEFA, which led to this opportunity,” he said.

Australia is the only nation outside of UEFA and CAF to receive an invitation to the preparatory tournament in Turkey. The tournament will also feature teams from Morocco, Cameroon, Uganda, Montenegro, Senegal, Angola, Nigeria, and Belarus.

The 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup will be held between October 5 and 27. FFA is currently exploring opportunities for the Joeys to participate in additional international tournaments on the path to Peru.

Joeys 20-Player Squad | 2019 UEFA Invitational Tournament (Antalya, Turkey)

Name

Club, Country

Idrus ABDULAHI

Melbourne City FC, Australia

Diego ALONSO

Valencia CF, Spain

Zaydan BELLO

Melbourne Victory, Australia

Noah BOTIC

Rockdale City Suns FC, Australia

Jordan COURTNEY-PERKINS

Brisbane Roar FC, Australia

Luke DUZEL

Melbourne City FC, Australia

Doni GRDIC

HNK Sibenik, Croatia

Tristan HAMMOND

Sporting Lisbon, Portugal

Zenden HART (Gk)

Central Coast Mariners, Australia

Birkan KIRDAR

Melbourne Victory, Australia

Adam PAVLESIC (Gk)

Sydney FC, Australia

Izaack POWELL

Brisbane Roar FC, Australia

Michael RUHS

Sydney United 58, Australia

Jack SIMMONS

Newcastle Jets, Australia

Ryan TEAGUE

Sydney FC, Australia

Jayden TRENKOSKI

Sydney FC, Australia

Joshua VARGA

Melbourne City FC, Australia

Daniel WALSH

Perth Glory FC, Australia

Riley WARLAND

Fulham FC, England

Caleb WATTS

Southampton FC, England