As an example in Asia, the Japan FA have clear targets, vision and regular games for all age national teams.

JFA run the men’s national team the Samurai Blue, and underneath that an U22s national team, an U20s national team and national teams for U15s, U16s, U17s, and U18s.

JFA also run a national U12 tournament for junior club sides and national University tournaments.

See more of JFA’s 2015-2022 mission here http://www.jfa.jp/eng/

Arnold took on the Olyroos job this year, on top of his Socceroos commitments, because he desperately wants to help bring through the next generation of Australian national team players.

He says he cares about producing the next generation, despite the challenges currently in the national team set up. He helped pilot the Olyroos through a difficult first stage of qualifiers in Cambodia last month, going unbeaten after a 2-2 draw with the Korea Republic saw the Australians qualify for January’s final stage of Tokyo 2020 qualifiers. 

The challenge was difficult but made even more arduous given there was no existing staff in place for the Olympic team ahead of March's campaign.

“My vision, my planning has always been long-term,” Arnold said.

“I sit back and look at the Socceroos going to the World Cup and winning games. And how does that happen?” he asked.

“It can’t just happen by luck. We can’t just hope to find someone in southern Italy with an Australian passport and maybe pluck him out of there.

“For me, it’s got to be everything underneath the Socceroos."

 

Aussie winger Reno Piscopo (foreground) is one of the talents coming through, although he was developed in the Italian system

“The Socceroos are the icing. But underneath the ingredients to get to the icing needs to be put in place, for the good of these kids, for them to get the opportunity to play international football and club football.

“I don’t talk about the Socceroos, I talk about the growth of the Socceroos.

"Because without the growth of the Socceroos, there will be no Socceroos.

“The players have to come from somewhere," concluded Arnold.