FIRED up Olyroo coach Graham Arnold said the Olyroos was not a development squad for the Socceroos and defended his reasons for leaving Nathan Burns and Bruce Djite out of his squad.
To see Arnie training the Olyroos at North Sydney Oval...

"It was form over 20 games," he insisted today. "Statistics, go have a look at statistics [on Burns and Djite].
"I spoken to the players, they understand the reason. In that time, we've had a lot of heat testing, physical testing, tactical testing.
“And I had to then make a decision on who was the better player. And the players I probably have in the squad here are better players.
“The only one who probably wasn't tested over the time and could be a bit of a shock could be Rukyvysta.
"He is someone I can potentially look along the bench if we're losing or during the game we need to change something and he's totally different to any of the other strikers.”
Quizzed on the notion that the Olyroos should be a Socceroo developmental squad and he was unequivocal.
“No. I've never heard of any U/23 team... if they should be a developmental squad, why are Brazil taking the players they are and Argentina?" he asked.
"And why is the chairman [Frank Lowy] saying he wants a medal?”
FFA Head of Corporate and Public Affairs Bonita Mersiades added to clarify the governing body's position on the selection process.
“The Olympic squad is not just a development squad but it's a team there to win a medal," she said.
"And let me put it on the public record that in selecting his team which is well and truly Graham's decision, he has consulted with Pim Verbeek, Rob Baan and all squads go through and approval process within FFA.
“So while it's Graham's call to pick who he chooses, it's done with full consultation with the system that the FFA wishes to use, set by the national technical director and with which every national coach is compliant.”
Arnold added: “At the end of the day I work with Pim Verbeek, and there are certain people trying to drive a wedge between me and Pim. Which is ludicrous. And Pim was informed of the squad four to five days before anyone else.
“I don't just pull out a squad and that's it. Rob Baan was informed of the squad, then Ben Buckley, John Boultbee the board [of FFA] and they tick it off.
“It's not my squad, it's FFA's squad.”
To see Arnie training the Olyroos at North Sydney Oval...

"It was form over 20 games," he insisted today. "Statistics, go have a look at statistics [on Burns and Djite].
"I spoken to the players, they understand the reason. In that time, we've had a lot of heat testing, physical testing, tactical testing.
“And I had to then make a decision on who was the better player. And the players I probably have in the squad here are better players.
“The only one who probably wasn't tested over the time and could be a bit of a shock could be Rukyvysta.
"He is someone I can potentially look along the bench if we're losing or during the game we need to change something and he's totally different to any of the other strikers.”
Quizzed on the notion that the Olyroos should be a Socceroo developmental squad and he was unequivocal.
“No. I've never heard of any U/23 team... if they should be a developmental squad, why are Brazil taking the players they are and Argentina?" he asked.
"And why is the chairman [Frank Lowy] saying he wants a medal?”
FFA Head of Corporate and Public Affairs Bonita Mersiades added to clarify the governing body's position on the selection process.
“The Olympic squad is not just a development squad but it's a team there to win a medal," she said.
"And let me put it on the public record that in selecting his team which is well and truly Graham's decision, he has consulted with Pim Verbeek, Rob Baan and all squads go through and approval process within FFA.
“So while it's Graham's call to pick who he chooses, it's done with full consultation with the system that the FFA wishes to use, set by the national technical director and with which every national coach is compliant.”
Arnold added: “At the end of the day I work with Pim Verbeek, and there are certain people trying to drive a wedge between me and Pim. Which is ludicrous. And Pim was informed of the squad four to five days before anyone else.
“I don't just pull out a squad and that's it. Rob Baan was informed of the squad, then Ben Buckley, John Boultbee the board [of FFA] and they tick it off.
“It's not my squad, it's FFA's squad.”
To see Arnie training the Olyroos at North Sydney Oval...

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