The Matildas have already booked their place in the Paris Olympics as they chase a first-ever medal. Now the Aussie men are hoping to join them there – but the under 23 ‘Olyroos’, not the Socceroos.
In a relic of the debate over professionalism in the Olympics – which was originally intended to be for amateur athletes – and to keep the FIFA Men’s World Cup as the showpiece international tournament, the men’s football tournament at the Olympics is limited to players aged 23 and under. Each team is allowed three over-age players.
It means that the Olympics become a crucial proving ground for young talent. It is a valuable opportunity for youngsters to develop against quality opponents on a high-pressure stage – and to put their names up in lights.
As midfielder Adrian Segecic said: “I think for a lot of players, it’s a life changing, career changing thing, so I think a lot of players are going to be looking forward to it.
“We’re going to give everything we can to make sure that we get to the Olympics.”
But the age limitation also poses significant challenges – and the Olyroos’ stocks have taken a major hit thanks to some unique problems with the U-23 regulations.
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The Olyroos on Monday night begin their U-23 Asian Cup campaign, where a third-place finish or better would seal qualification into the Olympics.
Finish fourth, and Australia will play off with the fourth-placed African team, Guinea, for a place in Paris.
But Australia aren’t just at the tournament to make the Olympics: they’re here to win, having never done better than third place (in 2020).
Goalkeeper Steven Hall said: “I think any competition that we go into, we always want to win, we always set our bar as high as we can set it.
“I think all the boys believe that we can go all the way and qualify for the Olympics, but also win this tournament.”
Australia, who finished fourth at the last edition in 2022, have been drawn alongside hosts Qatar, Jordan, and Indonesia in the group stage.
Australia beat Jordan 1-0 in the group stage in that 2022 tournament, while Qatar failed to win a game in their own group. Indonesia are making their debut in the U-23 Asian Cup this time around.
Yet the rapid development of Asian football in recent years – and particularly when it comes to youth programs – means that won’t be easy.
WHY IT IS A BIG DEAL
Competing at the Olympics is a lifelong dream for many athletes, and it’s no different when it comes to football.
As Hall says: “It would be a dream come true to go to the Olympics, I think it’s something not everyone gets to do.
“For myself, it would just be amazing to represent my country at the Olympics.”
But the Olympics is also a crucial stepping stone for players’ careers. Firstly, it is an invaluable opportunity to compete on a major stage, often leading to players earning transfers to bigger clubs. That was the case with many of the Olyroos who competed in Tokyo in 2021 – the team’s first appearance on the Olympic stage since 2008.
Back in 2008, now-Socceroos coach Graham Arnold was in charge, as Australia faced the likes of Argentina – featuring players like Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, and Pablo Zabaleta. They are proof that the Olympics is a breeding ground of future legends.
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Recognising the importance of the tournament in developing the next generation, Graham Arnold also took charge of the Olyroos team in 2021 alongside his duties as Socceroos coach.
From that squad in Tokyo, 12 players (excluding the designated over-age players) have played for the Socceroos – and a handful more have been called into national team camps but haven’t yet debuted.
Some have become genuine standouts: Harry Souttar and Kye Rowles in defence, Keanu Baccus and Connor Metcalfe in midfield, and playmaker Riley McGree.
Seven of the Tokyo team were included in the Socceroos’ most recent squad.
If more proof was needed of the value of the Olympics in unearthing and refining the next generation of Socceroos stars, that statistic says it all.
But there’s a major problem that could prove disastrous to the Olyroos’ hopes of making the Olympics.
THE UNDER-23 PROBLEM
This tournament does not take place during a FIFA ‘international window’ – the designated times for international matches to be played. All Socceroos matches take place in the designated men’s international windows (typically two weeks long, or a month for competitions like the Asian Cup or World Cup). It’s the same with the Matildas.
But in a controversial decision, this tournament – and frequently many other U-23 tournaments – do not take place in a FIFA window.
During an international window, clubs are forced to allow their players to represent their national team. Outside of things like injury or international retirement, players also have to accept a call-up from their national teams during a window – they can’t simply say no if they are officially called up. That distinction will become relevant a little further on when we discuss Adelaide United’s teen talent Nestory Irankunda.
Outside of an international window, clubs aren’t forced to let their players go on national team duty (or Olyroos duty in this case). There are many reasons clubs refuse. Perhaps they are chasing promotion, or avoiding relegation, or they have a big cup match coming up. There’s the fear of a player suffering injury while on national team duty – or in Australia’s case, the long flights for players competing in Europe can lead to problems like fatigue.
It’s wholly understandable that clubs want their best players available.
But it means that players can be denied crucial development time with their national team set-up – and it means the Olyroos will be without an array of their best players as they attempt to qualify for the Olympics.
That includes Socceroos duo Alessandro Circati (Parma, Italy) and Patrick Yazbek (Viking FK, Norway).
Coach Tony Vidmar said: “I’ve been open and honest with my disappointment that the Asian Cup falls outside of a FIFA window, but we knew access to players would be a challenge and it’s something we’ve planned for in recent months.
“I just feel for those who’ve not been given the opportunity to join us, as representing your country at any level is something you never forget, and they would have benefited greatly from the experience.”
He added recently: “I visited a majority of the clubs where the players were, we were confident that we were going to get a good percentage of those players. And then when it came closer to the time, we lost (Nicholas) Bilokapic, (Nectarios) Triantis, (Calem) Nieuwenhof, (Patrick) Yazbek and (Cameron) Peupion.
“(Alessandro) Circati was always going to be a difficult one. I spoke to Circati and he was keen months ago to be involved. So all of these players were so keen and desperate to be involved and we’re very disappointed that the clubs haven’t released them.”
And in a late twist, Louis D’Arrigo was denied joining the Olyroos by Polish club Lechia Gdansk, despite the club previously committing in writing to allowing him to play.
Convincing clubs to release players is a difficult task, but often clubs are persuaded given their young players will get match minutes, training, and the chance to shine on the international stage – something which can lead to big transfer fees for their clubs should they subsequently sell them.
But in the difficult tug of war between club and country, Australia has been left without a half-dozen stars for this crucial tournament – and it might just cost the Olyroos their place in the Olympics.
THE IRANKUNDA DRAMA
One particularly fascinating case has dominated headlines over the last week: Australia’s supremely talented Nestory Irankunda, an Adelaide United attacker who will move to German mega-club Bayern Munich in June.
The 18-year-old is one of the most gifted products to emerge in recent decades, and is being tipped for a long career for Australia’s national teams.
But the raw and emotional teen has born the brunt of an overwhelming media spotlight since his transfer to Bayern was announced – and he has often struggled with the limelight.
That’s why Olyroos boss Tony Vidmar did not call up Irankunda when he named his squad for the Asian Under-23 Cup.
“With Nestory, we have to be mindful, I’ve met with him on a couple of occasions,” Vidmar said. “What has happened to him this season, I think he’s on a rollercoaster 24/7 – that’s the way he is and we have to look at the bigger picture.
“We don’t have the luxury of having a thousand of those players where you can throw them against the wall and they break and you don’t use them. He has been through so much this year, I’d hate to be in his shoes. He has been prodded and poked and everyone wants a piece of him.
“He’s just turned 18, it’s a big ask for him … the person is number one.
“I could be selfish and just bring in him for the sake of it but we feel that the bigger picture is the Socceroos, you want to be talking about him for the next 15 years as a national team player.”
But things took a major twist when star attacker Marco Tilio withdrew from the squad with a quad injury. Football Australia reportedly sounded out Irankunda – informally – about replacing Tilio in the Olyroos squad.
Irankunda declined, preferring to stay at Adelaide and finish the season off before moving to Germany.
Had the Olyroos officially called Irankunda up to the team, he would have had to accept – or be banned from playing for Adelaide for the duration of the tournament.
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That’s why rival A-League clubs – many of which had sent their own players off to the Olyroos for the tournament – were upset.
But Football Australia did not formally call Irankunda up, only privately sounding him out – and reportedly through a third party.
Adelaide coach Carl Veart said after Adelaide’s 2-1 loss to Macarthur on the weekend, where Irankunda scored again before missing a late penalty, that there was “no contact whatsoever” between the FA and player.
Nevertheless, the debate over Australia’s top young talent only served to reinforce the ongoing tensions between club and country – and the difficult situation that the Olyroos find themselves in when it comes to getting the best squad available.
There are plenty of excellent players in the Olyroos squad, of course. It features the likes of Garang and Alou Kuol, the gifted brothers, and plenty of in-form A-League players. They are determined to make history by not just qualifying for the Olympics with a top-four finish in the Asian Cup, but winning the whole thing for the first time.
If they do make it to the Olympics, Irankunda will be back in the frame for selection.
“He’s always been in consideration [for Paris] and on our list of players,” Vidmar said.
“He is one where after the Olympic qualifiers it’ll be about having that discussion again and he likes that contact.
“He’s been open with me about a lot of things, but I don’t want to divulge them because that’s a trust and a relationship I’m building with him.”
For now, it’s up to the players at Vidmar’s disposal to get the job done.
AFC U-23 CUP GROUP STAGE FIXTURES
Olyroos vs Jordan U-23
Monday, 15 April 2024
Kick-off: 4.00pm AST / 11pm AEST
Abdulah Bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha
Indonesia U-23 v Olyroos
Thursday, 18 April 2024
Kick-off: 4.00pm AST / 11pm AEST
Abdulah Bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha
Qatar U-23 v Olyroos
Sunday, 21 April 2024
Kick-off: 6.30pm AST / 1.30am AEST (Monday, 22 April)
Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha
