Arnie plays long game

Socceroos boss mentors next generation

GRAHAM Arnold’s current squad is locked and loaded for the 2019 Asian Cup but Australia’s next generation of Socceroo hopefuls already have January 8, 2020 circled on their calendars.

So too does the national coach, even though his immediate priority is the Socceroos’ defence of their Asian Cup crown.

Thailand hosts the AFC Under-23 Championship in 12 months’ time, which also serves as the AFC qualifiers for the Olympic Games in Japan.

The top three sides in the tournament will advance to the Games with Australia looking to end a miserable recent run that saw them miss out on qualification for Rio 2016, London 2012 and fail to advance beyond the group stages in 2008.

However, before that, there is the small matter of the AFC U23 Championship qualifiers in March, with Australia set to face South Korea, Cambodia and Chinese Taipei.

The 11 group winners and four best runners up qualify for the final tournament.

Socceroos boss Arnold has made it clear that a clear and productive pathway between Under 23 and senior level is a must, and for that, he needs to see first-hand the talented youngsters at work.

Arnold will oversee both the Socceroos and Under 23s as he bids to ensure he is across all the options at his disposal.

One of those hoping to be part of the Olympic journey is Central Coast Mariners midfielder Aiden O’Neill.

He said he and his fellow squad members were delighted with the chance to impress the Socceroos coach. “The Under 23s, we went away to Canberra the other week (for a three-day camp) and we had a really good camp,” O’Neill said.

“It’s a really good bunch of boys who are looking ahead to the Olympic qualifiers.”

Arnold is no stranger to the Olympic tournament and coached Australia at the 2008 event in Beijing.

“(Olympic) qualification is the key. Qualification will give these kids an extra two years of international football while also aligning them with the same staff as the Socceroos,” Arnold said in August last year.