On Sunday night in China, a last-minute goalkeeper fumble by Young Socceroo keeper Mark Birighitti gifted DPR Korea a 3-2 AFC U19 win after a thrilling contest.

It mirrored the tournament with the green and god looking a class above recent Young Socceroo incarnations – particularly in the attacking third and in the way they played to a system.

Danning, an unused substitute in the final, said the style of football played by the Australians made them worthy champions.

 “We came so far and to lose against North Korea, it was heart-breaking. I do think we deserved it more than any team in the tournament and we proved that with the football we played,” he told au.fourfourtwo.com after returning from Zibo.

And with the crowd clearly on DPR’s side, it made for a tough night for the green and gold. The Sydney FC midfielder wasn’t impressed by the Chinese referee either.

“Everything was going against us," he said. "Every decision the referee made was towards North Korea and everything we did seemed not to be working.

“We were unlucky, they scored in the last minute, they didn’t deserve it but things happen in football. We should have come away with the win but football unfortunately is cruel in that way.”

But it’s hardened the resolve within the camp, said Danning, to prove to the AFC the Young Socceroos are indeed worthy of the tag of best in the region at youth level.

“We all want to prove a point in Columbia,” said the Ghanaian-born Aussie. “We all worked hard and we proved at this tournament [AFC U/19] that we are one of the best teams in Asia. We could’ve been Asian champions.

“If we can prove that in Asia we can prove that at the World Cup in Colombia against all the other countries in the world.”

To do that, the Young Socceroos will require a professional preparation. For overseas based players such as Tommy Oar (Utrecht), Kerem Bulut (FC Mlada Boleslav), Dylan McGowan (Hearts), Jason Davidson (Pacos de Ferreira, Portuga) and Matthew Fletcher (Sunderland), this shouldn’t be an issue.

They should continue to play and train regularly till the end of the European season. However, for 18 of the Young Socceroo squad from the AFC tournament, the A-League and NYL season finishes in February and March 2011.

Even for the four Sydney FC players who have ACL commitments during this period, that’s still only six games at the very best (and unlikely for all four).

This will make it very difficult for Australia to compete successfully at the U/20 World Cup with countries whose squads see regular football throughout the year, argue some.

One solution is for the FFA to spend money on a schedule of matches locally and overseas. Local games could include matches against the Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC, who both compete in the ACL during this period. Overseas games could be arranged with tours to South America and Asia.

But at this stage, nothing has been planned or announced. It’s an issue Young Socceroo coach Jan Versleijen is hoping won’t affect his team next year.  “It is now up to the players to play regularly with their clubs and be in the best form leading into the World Cup which is only nine months away,” he said after Sunday’s final.

And today, Young Socceroo assistant coach and assistant national technical director Alistair Edwards told au.fourfourtwo.com of his concerns about lack of a year-round schedule of football for our best young talent.

“When we can provide the likes of Terry Antonis with a year-round competition and training environment then we are in with a real chance to see these type of achievements regularly as we move forward.

“Come season’s end there is worrying five months of competition inactivity before the first game in Colombia.

“Previously the likes of Terry could move overseas but with FIFA Regulations dictating that players can’t transfer overseas until they are 18 you can see the dilemma, apart from the fact that we want our players to stay in Australia as long as possible, it is our duty to provide the appropriate environment for development.

“There are concrete solutions to this but implementation requires a collaborative approach between the Member Federations and FFA. Discussions are currently under way and it’s hoped that the post-Columbia review will focus on how we have all worked together in the provision of this vital year round competition.

“This is the only way we can provide our young national teams with a fighting chance to mix it with the world’s best. If for whatever reason we can’t provide this then we just simply need to lower our expectations in Columbia and I dare say 2022.”