Australia’s U-17 Men’s National Team Head Coach Trevor Morgan today confirmed the 23 players that have been selected to travel to the United Kingdom in early September to play three important international friendlies ahead of this year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup.
The Joeys - who have been drawn in Group B for the forthcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup in Brazil alongside Ecuador, Hungary, and Nigeria - will play U-17 selections from hosts England, Korea Republic, and Brazil in England on September 6, 8, and 10 (local time) respectively.
The friendly encounters will represent crucial, high-level game time for the group who have recently completed two training camps in Canberra. Like Australia, Korea Republic and Brazil are preparing to compete at this year’s tournament, which will take place from 26 October to 17 November 2019.
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Morgan’s squad consists of 17 players currently aligned with Hyundai A-League clubs, two players contracted to Sydney United 58 in the New South Wales National Premier Leagues (NPL), and four players who are currently plying their trade abroad.
The Joeys’ overseas-based contingent features Diego Alonso from Albacete Balompie in Spain, Tristan Hammond from Sporting Lisbon in Portugal, Caleb Watts from Southampton FC in England, and attacker Noah Botic who recently joined Hoffenheim in Germany’s Bundesliga from Rockdale City Suns FC in the NSW NPL.
“I am delighted that we have the opportunity to travel to England to play three important fixtures ahead of this year’s U-17 World Cup,” Morgan said. “We will commence the camp with five days of training at St George’s Park before shifting into match mode for our fixtures against England, Korea Republic, and Brazil.”
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“The time together and our games will provide all the players involved with another chance to impress ahead of the final selection for the squad for Brazil, and as a unit we will be seeking to advance our principles of play and perform at a high standard against strong opponents not dissimilar to those we will face at the World Cup.”
“We appreciate the invite from the Football Association to travel to England and also recognise the work that has been done behind the scenes by many people at FFA to bring this development opportunity to life for the group,” he said.
Australia qualified for this year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup last September when the team reached the semi-finals of the 2018 AFC U-16 Championship held in Malaysia.
The Joeys will be one of Asia’s four representatives at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019, with Japan, Korea Republic, and Tajikistan also participating in the prestigious youth football tournament.
Australia’s first FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019 match will take place on Saturday, 26 October against Ecuador at the Estadio Olimpico in Goiania. Morgan’s men will take on Hungary in the same city and stadium three days later, before shifting base to Brasilia (Gama) for the third and final group game against Nigeria at the Estadio Bezerrao on Friday, 1 November 2019.
The top two teams from each group, plus the four best third-placed teams will advance to the Round of 16.
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Australia U-17 Men’s National Team (‘Joeys’) 23-Player Squad | England Tour - September 2019
|
Name |
Club, Country |
|
Idrus ABDULAHI |
Melbourne City FC, Australia |
|
Diego ALONSO |
Albacete Balompie, Spain |
|
Ali AUGLAH |
Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia |
|
Nicholas BILOKAPIC (Gk) |
Sydney United 58, Australia |
|
Noah BOTIC |
TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, Germany |
|
Jordan COURTNEY-PERKINS |
Brisbane Roar FC, Australia |
|
Yaya DUKULY |
Melbourne City FC, Australia |
|
Luke DUZEL |
Melbourne City FC, Australia |
|
Tristan HAMMOND |
Sporting Lisbon, Portugal |
|
Oliver KALAC (Gk) |
Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Australia |
|
Birkan KIRDAR |
Melbourne Victory, Australia |
|
Luis LAWRIE-LATTANZIO |
Adelaide United, Australia |
|
Anton MLINARIC |
Sydney FC, Australia |
|
Trent OSTLER |
Perth Glory FC, Australia |
|
Cameron PEUPION |
Sydney FC, Australia |
|
Izaack POWELL |
Brisbane Roar FC, Australia |
|
Joshua RAWLINS |
Perth Glory FC, Australia |
|
Michael RUHS |
Sydney United 58, Australia |
|
Ahmad TALEB (Gk) |
Melbourne City FC, Australia |
|
Ryan TEAGUE |
Sydney FC, Australia |
|
Jayden TRENKOSKI |
Sydney FC, Australia |
|
Daniel WALSH |
Perth Glory FC, Australia |
|
Caleb WATTS |
Southampton FC, England |
Australia U-17 Men’s National Team (‘Joeys’) | Match Schedule | England Tour - September 2019
England v Australia
Date: Friday, 6 September 2019
Venue: Leicester Road FC, Leicestershire, England
Kick-off: 7.00pm (local) – 4.00am +1 (AEST)
Australia v Korea Republic
Date: Sunday, 8 September 2019
Venue: St. George’s Park, Burton-on-Trent, England
Kick-off: 1.00pm (local) – 10.00pm (AEST)
Australia v Brazil
Date: Tuesday, 10 September 2019
Venue: St. George’s Park, Burton-on-Trent, England
Kick-off: 3.00pm (local) – 12.00am +1 (AEST)
Australia U-17 Men’s National Team (‘Joeys’) | Match Schedule | FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019
Ecuador v Australia
Date: Saturday, 26 October 2019
Venue: Estadio Olimpico, Goiania, Brazil
Kick-off: 8.00pm (local) – 10.00am +1 (AEDT)
Broadcast: Live in Australia via SBS and theworldgame.sbs.com.au
Australia v Hungary
Date: Tuesday, 29 October 2019
Venue: Estadio Olimpico, Goiania, Brazil
Kick-off: 8.00pm (local) – 10.00am +1 (AEDT)
Broadcast: Live in Australia via SBS and theworldgame.sbs.com.au
Australia v Nigeria
Date: Friday, 1 November 2019
Venue: Estadio Bezerrao, Brasilia (Gama), Brazil
Kick-off: 5.00pm (local) – 7.00am +1 (AEDT)
Broadcast: Live in Australia via SBS and theworldgame.sbs.com.au