Vidmar Names A-League Olyroos

Vidmar has selected his squad solely from the ranks of the Hyundai A-League with 13 members who were part of the squad that defeated Yemen 7-0 on aggregate over two legs in the second round of qualifying back in June.

Coming into the squad for the first time for the current campaign are local Adelaide United defender Daniel Mullen, along with Mate Dugandzic (Melbourne Heart), James Brown (Gold Coast United), Rhyan Grant (Sydney FC) and Ben Kantarovski (Newcastle Jets).

Vidmar knows that the opening match against the UAE will set scene for the rest of the qualification campaign.

“Under this competition format, it is very important to get off to a positive start, especially when playing at home,” said Vidmar.

“We will have a good ten days preparation in the lead up to the match which will include a training match against a South Australian select team.

“With all the squad currently in pre-season with their clubs, we are going to have to work hard to ensure that we are match fit by game time.

“But I am confident that the players that have been selected will be up to the challenge and they will be ready for the campaign ahead,” concluded Vidmar.

The kick-off time for the match has also now been amended to 8:00pm ACST and will be broadcast live and exclusive on Fox Sports.

The Olyroos have been drawn against Iraq, Uzbekistan, and UAE in Group B of the third round of the Asian Qualifiers for the London 2012 Olympic Games men’s football tournament.

Asia are allotted 3.5 slots for the London 2012 Olympic Gamers men’s football tournament.

The winner of each group from the third round will automatically progress to next year’s Olympic Games.

The three second-placed teams from the third round will clash in a playoff at a centralised venue from 25 to 29 March, 2012, and the winner of this group will then meet the representatives of CAF (Africa) for a berth at the Olympic Games.

The Olyroos will gather in Adelaide on Monday and will play a friendly match against a South Australian select team at 7pm next Wednesday at Hindmarsh Stadium with free entry for local fans.

Qantas Australian Under 23s Squad List
Round 3 - 2012 London Olympic Games Asian Qualification Matches

Match Details

2012 London Olympic Games Asian Qualifier – Third Round

Qantas Australian Under 23’s v United Arab Emirates

Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide

Wednesday, 21 September 2011

Kick-off: 8:00pm ACST (8:30pm AEST)