Central Coast Mariner and academy graduate Jacob Farrell has been named in the Australian Under 23’s Olyroos squad set to commence their Paris 2024 Olympics qualification preparations this month.
Comprising of fifteen footballers from the Isuzu UTE A-League Men competition and nine overseas-based players, this is Tony Vidmar’s first squad since being appointed Subway Olyroos’ Head Coach, with the camp to be held at the Australian Institute of Sport European Training Centre located in Gavirate, Varese in Northern Italy.
The Subway Olyroos have an important seven months ahead, with the AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024 Qualifiers scheduled for 4 – 12 September 2023, and if the team progresses, the AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024 in early 2024 (dates to be confirmed by AFC) which double as Paris 2024 Olympics qualifiers.
“We have selected an exciting squad of 24-players for this camp in Italy, which is reward for their strong performances in the A-League Men’s competition and their respective club sides overseas,” explained Vidmar.
“As a squad, we only have a small window of time to prepare for our AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers, with this camp being one of only two we will have prior to September. So, this time at the Australian Institute of Sport European Training Centre will be an important opportunity for the players we’ve not seen for some time to impress the coaching staff for future selection,” said Vidmar.
As part of the nine-day camp, the Subway Olyroos will play two friendly matches against quality opposition in the form of the Switzerland U-21 national team in Bellinzona, Switzerland on Friday, 24 March (7.00pm local time) and Serie B outfit, Como 1907 (venue TBC) on Monday, 27 March (3.00pm local).
The Subway Olyroos will come together again from 2 – 18 June, when they contest the Maurice Revello Tournament 2023 in Aix-en-Provence, France.
This event features twelve U-23 national men’s teams from five Confederations, where it’s expected that Australia will play at least four matches across the 16-days, providing ideal tournament preparation ahead of the September qualifiers.
The draw for the AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024 qualifiers is set to take place in May.
SUBWAY OLYROOS’ SQUAD l ITALY TRAINING CAMP l 20 – 28 MARCH 2023
| NAME | POSITION | CURRENT CLUB (as at 7 March ’23) | JUNIOR FOOTBALL CLUB |
| AQUILINA, Thomas | Defender | Newcastle Jets FC | Mount Annan Mustangs FC (Football NSW) |
| BILOKAPIC, Nicholas | Goalkeeper | Huddersfield Town AFC, England | Sydney United 58 FC (Football NSW) |
| BOTIC, Noah | Forward | Western United FC | Hurstville ZFC (Football NSW) |
| BROOK, Lachlan | Forward | Crew Alexandra FC, England | Gawler Eagles FC (Football South Australia) |
| COOK, Cameron | Goalkeeper | Perth Glory FC | Vikings FC (Football Northern Territory) |
| COURTNEY-PERKINS, Jordan | Defender | Brisbane Roar FC | Newmarket SFC (Football Queensland) |
| D’ARRIGO, Louis | Midfielder | Adelaide United FC | West Torrens Birkalla SC (Football South Australia) |
| FARRELL, Jacob | Defender | Central Coast Mariners FC | Wyoming FC (Football NSW) |
| FRANCOIS, Marlee | Midfielder | Bristol City FC (Youth), England | Camden Tigers FC (Football NSW) |
| HARRISON, Jordan | Midfielder | Watford FC (Youth), England | Manchester City FC (England) |
| HOLLMAN, Jake | Midfielder | Macarthur FC | Seaforth FC (Football NSW) |
| ITALIANO, Jacob | Forward | Borussia Monchengladbach II, Germany | Inglewood United FC (Football West) |
| JELACIC, Keegan | Midfielder | Perth Glory FC | Coomera Colts SC (Football Queensland) |
| KUOL, Alou | Forward | VfB Stuttgart, Germany | Shepparton SC (Football Victoria) |
| MAURAGIS, Lucas | Defender | Wellington Phoenix FC | Merimbula Grasshoppers FC (Football NSW) |
| NATTA, Mark | Defender | Newcastle Jets FC | Sutherland Sharks FC (Football NSW) |
| NIEUWENHOF, Calem | Midfielder | Western Sydney Wanderers FC | Curl Curl FC (Football NSW) |
| PEUPION, Cameron | Forward | Brighton Hove & Albion FC (Youth), England | Wakehurst FC (Football NSW) |
| POPOVIC, Alexandar | Defender | Adelaide United FC | Adelaide Comets FC (Football South Australia) |
| SHALAMANOV-TRENKOVA, Ilia | Goalkeeper | PFC CSKA Sofia, Bulgaria | PFC Belasitsa Petrich (Bulgaria) |
| TALBOT, Callum | Defender | Melbourne City FC | Gymea United FC (Football NSW) |
| TREWIN, Kai | Defender | Brisbane Roar FC | Gunghalin United FC (Capital Football) |
| VELUPILLAY, Nishan | Forward | Melbourne Victory FC | Endeavour United SC (Football Victoria) |
| YAZBEK, Patrick | Midfielder | Viking FK, Norway | Austral Soccer Club (Football NSW) |
