FootballNews

From the World Game:

Australian Under 23 coach Graham Arnold has named his 18-man squad for the 2008 Olympic Games Men's Football Tournament in which there is no place for Bruce Djite or Nathan Burns - while Harry Kewell, who has joined Turkish champions Galatasaray, will not be one of the three overage players.

The three overage players are defender Jade North, wide-man David Carney and Melbourne Victory striker Archie Thompson. Nine A-League players have been selected with defender Mark Milligan and winger James Troisi both currently without a club.

Genclerbirligi-bound forward Djite has not made the cut depite being a regular squad member with the Socceroos under Pim Verbeek while AEK Athens signing Burns has missed selection, despite many good judged rating him the country's most promising young attacker.

Olyroos squad: Mark Bridge (Sydney FC), David Carney (Sheffield United, England), Billy Celeski (Melbourne Victory), Adam Federici (GK, Reading, England), Neil Kilkenny (Leeds United, England), Adrian Leijer (Fulham Athletic, England), Trent McClenahan (Hereford United, England), Mark Milligan (uncontracted), Stuart Musialik (Sydney FC), Nikita Rukavytsya (Perth Glory), Kristian Sarkies (Adelaide United), Matthew Spiranovic (FC Nurnberg, Germany), Nikolai Topor-Stanley (Perth Glory), James Troisi (uncontracted), Tando Velaphi (GK, Perth Glory), Ruben Zadkovich (Derby County, England), Jade North (Newcastle Jets), Archie Thompson (Melbourne Victory).

"It was a difficult job selecting the team,” Arnold said. “I had a look not only at current form of the players but their form right through the qualification campaign.”

“The three overage players will bring both attacking and strong defence to the team."

Troisi is the youngest member of the squad at 19.

“I’m excited and really looking forward to being an Olympian,” Troisi said. “We’ve got a good squad and it’s going to be a great experience.”

On the other side of the scale, Newcastle Jets skipper North can't wait for his chance in Beijing after also representing his country in Athens four years ago.

“It is a real honour to be picked to go to Beijing,” he said.

“I can’t wait to start training with them and get over there. I really hope to go in and lead by example for the younger players.”

Again from The World Game:

Olyroos coach Graham Arnold had one simple explanation for dumping young stars Nathan Burns and Bruce Djite from his squad for Beijing: they can't handle the heat.

The Australian 18-member squad that will face Serbia, Argentina and Cote d'Ivoire in the Olympics in August was announced Friday but there was no place for the former Adelaide United pair who will play in Europe after signing for AEK Athens of Greece and Genclerbirligi of Turkey respectively.

"The selection policy took into account the players' form over the two years I've been working with them,'' Arnold said.

"If there's one thing I've learned from playing in Asia it's that if players can't play in the heat, they can't play in the heat, no matter who they are.

"You can take them away for two months and still they can't acclimatise. You've got to be able to handle the conditions to give yourself the opportunity tactically to carry out the job.

"These 18 players deserved to be picked. It's a mature and quality squad and most of them are 22 or 23 years old.

"Unfortunately, Burns and Djite are only 20 which made it pretty difficult for them," Arnold added.

"I was looking for maturity, quality, athleticism, speed and tactical nous.''

August is the hottest month of the year in China and Arnold said getting to Beijing early to acclimatise was crucial to the Olyroos' chances of success in a very hard group.

ford prefect wrote:Arnie shouldn't have any problems with the Argies

Goalkeepers: Oscar Ustari (Getafe), Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar)

Defenders: Pablo Zabaleta (Espanyol), Luciano Monzon (Boca Juniors), Ezequiel Garay (Real Madrid), Nicolas Burdisso (Inter Milan), Federico Fazio (Sevilla), Lautaro Acosta (Sevilla).

Midfielders: Fernando Gago (Real Madrid), Juan Roman Riquelme (Boca Juniors), Ever Banega (Valencia), Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Jose Sosa (Bayern Munich).

Forwards: Diego Buonanotte (River Plate), Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli), Angel Di Maria (Benfica)

if his aim is to keep them under 10 goals.

No Clever Alias wrote:

From the World Game:

Australian Under 23 coach Graham Arnold has named his 18-man squad for the 2008 Olympic Games Men's Football Tournament in which there is no place for Bruce Djite or Nathan Burns - while Harry Kewell, who has joined Turkish champions Galatasaray, will not be one of the three overage players.

The three overage players are defender Jade North, wide-man David Carney and Melbourne Victory striker Archie Thompson. Nine A-League players have been selected with defender Mark Milligan and winger James Troisi both currently without a club.

Genclerbirligi-bound forward Djite has not made the cut depite being a regular squad member with the Socceroos under Pim Verbeek while AEK Athens signing Burns has missed selection, despite many good judged rating him the country's most promising young attacker.

Olyroos squad: Mark Bridge (Sydney FC), David Carney (Sheffield United, England), Billy Celeski (Melbourne Victory), Adam Federici (GK, Reading, England), Neil Kilkenny (Leeds United, England), Adrian Leijer (Fulham Athletic, England), Trent McClenahan (Hereford United, England), Mark Milligan (uncontracted), Stuart Musialik (Sydney FC), Nikita Rukavytsya (Perth Glory), Kristian Sarkies (Adelaide United), Matthew Spiranovic (FC Nurnberg, Germany), Nikolai Topor-Stanley (Perth Glory), James Troisi (uncontracted), Tando Velaphi (GK, Perth Glory), Ruben Zadkovich (Derby County, England), Jade North (Newcastle Jets), Archie Thompson (Melbourne Victory).

"It was a difficult job selecting the team,” Arnold said. “I had a look not only at current form of the players but their form right through the qualification campaign.”

“The three overage players will bring both attacking and strong defence to the team."

Troisi is the youngest member of the squad at 19.

“I’m excited and really looking forward to being an Olympian,” Troisi said. “We’ve got a good squad and it’s going to be a great experience.”

On the other side of the scale, Newcastle Jets skipper North can't wait for his chance in Beijing after also representing his country in Athens four years ago.

“It is a real honour to be picked to go to Beijing,” he said.

“I can’t wait to start training with them and get over there. I really hope to go in and lead by example for the younger players.”

Again from The World Game:

Olyroos coach Graham Arnold had one simple explanation for dumping young stars Nathan Burns and Bruce Djite from his squad for Beijing: they can't handle the heat.

The Australian 18-member squad that will face Serbia, Argentina and Cote d'Ivoire in the Olympics in August was announced Friday but there was no place for the former Adelaide United pair who will play in Europe after signing for AEK Athens of Greece and Genclerbirligi of Turkey respectively.

"The selection policy took into account the players' form over the two years I've been working with them,'' Arnold said.

"If there's one thing I've learned from playing in Asia it's that if players can't play in the heat, they can't play in the heat, no matter who they are.

"You can take them away for two months and still they can't acclimatise. You've got to be able to handle the conditions to give yourself the opportunity tactically to carry out the job.

"These 18 players deserved to be picked. It's a mature and quality squad and most of them are 22 or 23 years old.

"Unfortunately, Burns and Djite are only 20 which made it pretty difficult for them," Arnold added.

"I was looking for maturity, quality, athleticism, speed and tactical nous.''

August is the hottest month of the year in China and Arnold said getting to Beijing early to acclimatise was crucial to the Olyroos' chances of success in a very hard group.

Why is this clown still in charge of the Olyroos!?!

paddy15 wrote:He's a disgrace. And the leaving out of Burns and Djite should not overshadow the other omissions such as Dario Vidosic, Dean Bouzanis, Nick Ward, Ryan McGowan and James Wesolowski.
He's a peanut. For those of you on facebook, join the ``Arnold for the sack'' group.

gooders wrote:

paddy15 wrote:He's a disgrace. And the leaving out of Burns and Djite should not overshadow the other omissions such as Dario Vidosic, Dean Bouzanis, Nick Ward, Ryan McGowan and James Wesolowski.
He's a peanut. For those of you on facebook, join the ``Arnold for the sack'' group.

wtf hes done the right thing by selecting the player 'who want to play for their country'.

vidosic - possibly, ward should be yes, mcgowan no, and wesolowski, not yet.

Juventino wrote:Burns did want to play for his country, yet was overlooked.

paddy15 wrote:

gooders wrote:

paddy15 wrote:He's a disgrace. And the leaving out of Burns and Djite should not overshadow the other omissions such as Dario Vidosic, Dean Bouzanis, Nick Ward, Ryan McGowan and James Wesolowski.
He's a peanut. For those of you on facebook, join the ``Arnold for the sack'' group.

wtf hes done the right thing by selecting the player 'who want to play for their country'.

vidosic - possibly, ward should be yes, mcgowan no, and wesolowski, not yet.

I beg to differ on McGowan - http://www.inglefarmsoccerclub.com/2007 ... view07.htm

I haven't heard anything about Wesolowski about NOT making himself available, while vidosic was pretty keen on playing during our recent tournament in Malaysia, if my memory serves me correctly.

gooders wrote:

Juventino wrote:Burns did want to play for his country, yet was overlooked.

not what i heard, but prove me wrong mate.

gooders wrote:

Juventino wrote:Burns did want to play for his country, yet was overlooked.

not what i heard, but prove me wrong mate.

paddy15 wrote:wtf hes done the right thing by selecting the player 'who want to play for their country'.

vidosic - possibly, ward should be yes, mcgowan no, and wesolowski, not yet.

paddy15 wrote:Ah. Point taken possibly on McGowan as he has only just broken into the Hearts team, but Wesolowski made 18 games in central midfield for championship side Leicester last year.