Australia face Ecuador in first game of FIFA Under 17 World Cup confident of producing good result
Exactly 20 years on from reaching the final, world football scouts are watching on, with Australia’s international reputation set to be assessed in Brazil over the next few weeks of the U17 World Cup.
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Joeys coach Trevor Morgan has vowed to let his players express themselves, as Australia prepares for a return to the world stage.
The Joeys face Ecuador in their opening game of the FIFA Under 17 World Cup - the tournament which has unearthed the likes of Harry Kewell - on Sunday morning (EDT), their first appearance since 2015.
Exactly 20 years on from reaching the final (lost to Brazil on penalties), world football scouts are watching on, with Australia’s international reputation set to be assessed in Brazil over the next few weeks.
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Melbourne Victory attacker Birkan Kirdar looks set to play a key role for the Joeys as an attacking midfielder, with Idrus Abdulahi, Yaya Dukuly (Melbourne City) and Luke Duzel (Western United) also set to feature.
“We’ll play a brand of football that looks like Australia - organised, we’ll try and play good football and let individuals show what they’ve got to offer. If a player is good one-on-one, he’s allowed to go for it and he’s encouraged to do so,” Morgan said.
“Game one for any 16 or 17 year old playing in a World Cup for the first time, is going to be fast and furious. Our boys are not be scared of anybody, so they’ll compete from the start.
“They’re ready to perform to their ability. All 21 players are fit and ready, training intensity has been good.
“One week our conditioning coach added up the numbers and said boys, that’s the same numbers an A-League team goes through in a week - same amount of ground and high speed metres collectively. Teenagers churning out an A-League level of work, good start.”
Youth development has been a polarising issue, with the production line slowing since the golden generation.
The U17 World Cup is not an iron-clad indicator of future success - for instance Daniel Arzani was a substitute in 2015 but is the only player to progress to the Socceroos - but going deep in the knockout phase, as they did in 1999 with a team featuring Josh Kennedy, Scott McDonald and Jade North, helps.
“Everyone would love to see a youth national team do really well at this stage, because everyone’s got an opinion about why we haven’t (featured) deep in these tournaments,” Morgan said.
“I want people to turn the TV on and see them win the match, but with control, purpose - I want them to see Aussie kids with creativity flair, with tactical discipline and game understanding, and also that Aussie fighting spirit.”
FIFA U17 WORLD CUP
Ecuador v Australia
Today, 10am AEDT
Estadio Olimpico, Goiania, Brazil
TV: SBS
Australia v Hungary
Wednesday, 10am
Venue: Estadio Olimpico, Goiania, Brazil
TV: SBS
Australia v Nigeria
Saturday, 7am
Venue: Estadio Bezerrao, Brasilia (Gama), Brazil
TV: SBS