Olyroos arrive in Turkey ahead of international friendly

The Olyroos (Australian U23) squad have arrived in Istanbul to prepare for their upcoming match against Turkey as part of preparations for January’s Olympic Games qualifiers (AFC U23 Championships) in Doha.

Olyroos Head Coach Aurelio Vidmar was forced to make one change to his squad over the weekend with Greece-based Terry Antonis ruled out through injury and Awer Mabil, who is currently playing for FC Midtjylland in the Danish Super League, taking his place.

The Olyroos and the Turkish U21 Men’s National team will play for the "Gelibolu Dostluk Kupasi" ("Gallipoli Friendship Cup") on Friday 4 September, which coincides with the Centenary of the Gallipoli campaign.

Whilst in Turkey, the Olyroos will also hold a special training session with athletes from the Turkish Disabled Sports Federation as part of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, year-long cultural festival ‘Australia in Turkey 2015’, with cultural events and performances taking place throughout September.

The Olyroos will then face FYR Macedonia in Skopje on 7 September.

The Olyroos starting XI for their AFC U-23 Championship qualifier against Hong Kong.

Olyroos Squad for Turkey and FYR Macedonia matches 4-7 September 2015

Mustafa AMINI (Randers FC, Denmark), Brandon BORRELLO (Brisbane Roar FC), Joshua BRILLANTE (Empoli, Italy), Cameron BURGESS (Fulham FC, England), Daniel DE SILVA (Roda JC Kerkrade, Netherlands), Milos DEGENEK (1860 Munich, Germany), James DONACHIE (Brisbane Roar FC), Jack DUNCAN (Randers FC, Denmark), Ryan EDWARDS (Uncontracted), Giancarlo GALLIFUOCO (Swansea FC, England), Scott GALLOWAY (Melbourne Victory FC), Jason GERIA (Melbourne Victory FC), John HALL (Adelaide United FC), Andrew HOOLE (Sydney FC), Paul IZZO (Central Coast Mariners FC), Awer MABIL (FC Midtjylland, Denmark), Jamie MACLAREN (Brisbane Roar FC), Chris NAUMOFF (Sydney FC), Connor PAIN (Melbourne Victory FC), Steven UGARKOVIC (NK Osijek, Croatia), Brad SMITH (Uncontracted), Adam TAGGART (Fulham FC, England), Riley WOODCOCK (Sydney FC).

MATCH DETAILS

Turkey U21 v Australia U22

4 September 2015

Kasimpasa Recep Tayyip Erdogan Stadium, Istanbul, Turkey

Kick-Off: 8.30pm (local) (3:30am AEST, 5 Sept)

Macedonia U21 v Australia U22

7 September 2015

FF Macedonia Training Centre – Skopje, FYR Macedonia

Kick-Off: TBC (local)