Young Socceroos Argentinean Tour

August 7th, 2009 | by: Kieran |

The Young Socceroos return home from Argentina today after completing the warm up tour for the U-20 World Cup. So how did they fare?

The Squad:
Jan Versleijen, Head Coach of the Young Socceroos, named his squad to compete in Copa Ciudad de Rosario in Argentina, a warm up event for the U-20 World Cup to be held later this year in Egypt. The squad consisted of 20 player, 16 from A-League or local clubs, and 4 from overseas. The squad was:

Luke Brattan (Brisbane Roar), Isaka Cernak Okanya (Brisbane Roar), Alex Cisak (Leicester City, UK), Peter Cvetanovski (Borussia Moenchengladbach, Germany), Kofi Danning (Sydney FC), Luke DeVere (Brisbane Roar), Nathan Elasi (Melbourne Victory), Antony Golec (Sydney FC), Jason Hoffman (Newcastle Jets), Matthew Jurman (Sydney FC), Osama Malik (North Queensland Fury), Tahj Minniecon (Gold Coast United), Aaron Mooy (Bolton Wanderers, UK), Sam Munro (Sydney FC), Jason Naidovski (Newcastle Jets), Mitch Nichols (Brisbane Roar), Chris Payne (Sydney FC), Andrew Redmayne (Central Coast Mariners), Nikola Stanojevic (AIS), Rocco Visconte (Hearts FC, Scotland).

Not a half bad squad really, with the likes of Osama Malik and KOFI KOFI KOFI!!!, and Tahj Minniecon. However there is the notable absence of one Dean Bouzanis, young Liverpool keeper who had been flirting with Greece recently. Hopefully this was just because he wanted to stay in Liverpool for their pre-season, and hopefully he will be in the squad for the World Cup.

So the squad jetted out to Argentina to prepare for their first game against…Uruguay U-20’s, Australia’s arch nemesis.

Game 1: Uruguay U-20’s 0-0 Australian U-20’s (4-3 on penalties)

The first game of the tournament started cautiously, before a mistake in the Uruguayan midfield opened up a one on one for Jason Hoffman, but his shot sailed over. Then in the second half a cross from Hoffman was volleyed but the Uruguayan keeper and struck by KOFI KOFI KOFI!! Danning, but alas it hit the post. The Young Socceroos remained dangerous for the rest of the game, but couldn’t convert, and at the end of 90 minutes the game went straight to penalties. The first three Aussie penalties were converted, but then misses from Nathan Elasi and Peter Cvetanovski opened up the door for Uruguay, who converted. So a 4-3 penalty loss for the opening game againist our enemy, not a great start.

Game 2: C.A. Tiro Federal 2-1 Australian U-20’s

Australia was scheduled to play the USA side next, but a late change meant they faced club side Tiro Federal instead. And things didn’t start well, with a goal in the fifth minute from the club side, after a rebound from Young Socceroos keeper Alex Cisak. However, the Young Socceroos rebounded quickly, with an equaliser coming only 13 minutes later from Chris Payne. But then…two minutes later Federal regained the lead after a Socceroos error. In the second half the Young Socceroos started strongly, but to no avail. Then a red card to Federal opened up an opportunity, but unfortunately they were unable to equalise and finished the game 2-1 down.

Game 3: Australian U-20’s 3-1 USA U-20’s

The Young Socceroos had to bounce back strongly in there last game of the tournament, and it didn’t look like doing so when a Kofi Danning error gave USA the lead (are you sure this is right? Danning doesn’t make mistakes ). However Danning then had the chance to make up for his mistake, when he took a nice shot on goal, only for it to hit the post and get cleared. The Young Socceroos continued to create, but with no end product, until the 87th minute when Chris Payne set up Jason Naidovski, who calmly slotted it home. Then 3 minutes later Australia found the lead after a cross into a crowded box found Isaka Cernak. Then towards the end of extra time some good passing from Chris Payne and Aaron Mooy saw Payne slotting it past the keeper. So a good win for the Young Socceroos over a quality USA side will be a big confidence boost for them.

Game 4 (end of tour friendly): Australia U-20’s 2-2 Argentinos Juniors

The Young Socceroos had a final end of season friendly against Argentinos Juniors, and after conceding in the 35th it looked like it would go the same way as the first two games. But a Aaron Mooy conversion after Jason Hoffman was brought down in the box put the Young Socceroos back on level pegging. Australia then had the chance to go ahead when Chris Payne was through on the keeper, but a great save denied him. Then, a minute later, a mistake from the Young Socceroos keeper while trying to clear, gifted the Argentinos Juniors a goal. However an Australian equaliser in the 76th minute meant Australia would go home with a draw.

So an acceptable tournament for the Young Socceroos on the whole, with a win, a draw and 2 losses. Young Socceroos head coach Jan Versleijen reflected on the tour saying, “The tour has been very successful from playing South American teams and we have learnt a great deal leading into the U-20 World Cup…What this tour has also showed is which players are up to the level required to compete at the World Cup and this has provided me with further information on our players as I work towards selecting the final squad,”

So.. What do you think, an acceptable result? or should they have gone better?