Canberrans to Amsterdam...and the World

Kofi Danning, and Sam Munro are off to Europe with the Under 20 Australian side.

Notice a heap of overseas joining them including maybe the pick of the bunch? Peter CVETANOVSKI (Borussia Monchengladbach, Germany),

And will Kofi be back? You can be sure with games against Celtic, Ajax, PSV, Valencia and co it won't be just the Aussie Coaches having a look will it. Let's hope a few of the A-League boys return for a while at least.

Australian-based players selected by Head Coach, Jan Versleijen, for an 18 man Qantas Young Socceroos squad for a European training camp has departed Australia this afternoon as part of their preparation for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup to be held in Egypt in September/October.

The touring squad is comprised of 14 players from Hyundai A-League and National Youth League teams and four players from overseas clubs.

The players travelled with newly appointed Assistant Coach and former Qantas Socceroo, Ante Milicic, and former Hyundai A-League player and former Wellington Phoenix assistant coach, Wayne O’Sullivan, who has been appointed as video analyst for the team.

The Qantas Young Socceroos will participate in two tournaments in the Netherlands and also play friendly matches against De Graafschap and the Egyptian U-20 national team. The two tournaments involve modified matches, played with 20 minute halves, with teams playing two or three games a day.

Versleijen has also invited Aaron Mooy (Bolton Wanderers, England), Mitchell Nicholson (Dorchester Town, England), Brent McGrath (Brondy, Denmark), Rocco Visconte (Hearts FC, Scotland), Dylan McGowan (Hearts FC, Scotland), Christos Tamaros (Apollon Kalamarias, Greece) and Robert Stambolziev (Bristol City, England)to train with the squad with a view towards possible future selection in the playing squad.

“We have chosen this European tour due to the fact that we have European Opposition (Czech Republic) at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt," said Versleijen.

"Later in the year we will head to South America for another training camp to test ourselves against opposition similar to the playing styles of Brazil and Costa Rica whom we also meet at the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

“An important reason for this tour is for the players to get international experience against different teams and to strengthen our playing style, but I will also use the opportunity to see some new faces from overseas clubs and assess if they can add something to the squad,” said Versleijen.

“The benefit of playing in these two tournaments is that the players will have many games in a short period of time against a variety of opposition," concluded Versleijen.

In July, The Qantas Young Socceroos are scheduled to embark on a South American tour to Venezuela as they continue their preparations for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Egypt 2009.

The Qantas Young Socceroos have been drawn in Group E for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Egypt 2009, alongside Brazil, Costa Rica and the Czech Republic. The FIFA U-20 World Cup Egypt 2009 which will be played from 24 September to 16 October.

The Qantas Young Socceroos qualified for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup by progressing to the semi-final stage at the AFC U-19 Championships in Saudi Arabia last year.

ENDS
Qantas Young Socceroos Squad List
Mark BIRIGHITTI (Adelaide United), Oliver BOZANIC (Reading FC, England), Luke BRATTAN (Brisbane Roar), Isaka CERNAK (Brisbane Roar), Peter CVETANOVSKI (Borussia Monchengladbach, Germany), Kofi DANNING (Sydney FC), Luke DE VERE (Brisbane Roar), Nathan ELASI (Melbourne Victory), Rhyan GRANT (Sydney FC), James HOLLAND (AZ Alkmaar, Netherlands), Matthew JURMAN (Sydney FC), Ryan McGOWAN (Hearts FC, Scotland), Tahj MINNIECON (Gold Coast United) Daniel MULLEN (Adelaide United), Sam MUNRO (Sydney FC), Mitch NICHOLLS (Brisbane Roar), Thomas OAR (Brisbane Roar), Andrew REDMAYNE (Central Coast Mariners)

Match Schedule
DateMatch TypeFixtureVenueKick-Off (CEST)Kick-Off (AEST)
19 May 2009FriendlyQantas Young Socceroos v De Graafschap Terborg1:00pm9:00pm
22 May 2009TTValencia CF v Qantas Young Socceroos Terborg2:10pm10:10pm
TTQantas Young Socceroos v FeyenoordTerborg7:10pm3:10am
23 May 2009TTQantas Young Socceroos v Atletico MineiroTerborg11:40am7:40pm
TTDe Graafschap v Qantas Young SocceroosTerborg3:00pm11:00pm
24 May 2009TTTerborg Touwernooi Finals Series Terborg
26 May 2009FriendlyQantas Young Socceroos v Egypt U-20 Terborg11:00am7:00pm
30 May 2009ICGTQantas Young Socceroos v PSV EindhovenUitgeest12:00pm8:00pm
ICGTQantas Young Socceroos v Ajax AmsterdamUitgeest1:40pm9:40pm
ICGTCeltic v Qantas Young SocceroosUitgeest3:30pm11:30pm
1 June 2009ICGTQantas Young Socceroos v FC UitgeestUitgeest10:00am6:00pm
ICGTQantas Young Socceroos v VitesseUitgeest11:35am7:35pm
ICGTSemi Finals and FinalsUitgeest2:00pm10:00pm