Qantas Socceroos Head Coach Holger Osieck has included three Adelaide United players for a training camp on the Central Coast from May 6-10.
Qantas Socceroos Head Coach Holger Osieck has included three Adelaide United FC players for a training camp on the Central Coast from May 6-10.
Reds captain Eugene Galekovic, Jon McKain and Dario Vidosic are among a group 12 Australian based players named by Osieck to participate in next week-s camp which is being used as part of the Qantas Socceroos- preparations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers against Japan, Jordan and Iraq next month.
Galekovic, McKain and Vidosic are no strangers to the national setup having all represented the Qantas Socceroos previously, and while the rest of the Reds- squad is currently enjoying annual leave, there is no such rest for the trio as they aim to impress and put themselves in consideration for the crucial qualifiers.
“We currently have two groups of players, those that are still playing in their domestic leagues and those from Australia that are in their off-season,” said Osieck.
“The purpose of this training camp is to assess the physical standard of the players out of season and get them to a similar level compared to the other players.”
The selection of the Reds trio comes as reward for their impressive form in the Hyundai A-League season just gone. Galekovic made the most saves of any keeper in Season 8, McKain started to display the versatility, poise and aggressiveness that had him in past Australian squads, while Vidosic took out United-s 2012/13 Club Champion Award and was also the club-s leading goal scorer.
The training camp will be held in conjunction with a Qantas Young Socceroos training camp, a squad which includes young Reds goalkeeper Paul Izzo. The Qantas Young Socceroos are currently preparing for the upcoming FIFA U-20 World Cup which will be held in Turkey from 21 June – 14 July 2013.
The upcoming 2014 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifier between the Qantas Socceroos and Japan, Jordan and Iraq will be broadcast exclusively live on FOX SPORTS with SBS TV as the exclusive free to air broadcaster for all three (3) matches.
Qantas Socceroos Training Camp Squad (Central Coast 6 – 10 May 2013)
Mitchell DUKE (Central Coast Mariners), Ivan FRANJIC (Brisbane Roar), Eugene GALEKOVIC (Adelaide United FC), Craig GOODWIN (Newcastle Jets), Jonathan MCKAIN (Adelaide United FC), Mark MILLIGAN (Melbourne Victory), Aaron MOOY (Western Sydney Wanderers), Lucas NEILL (uncontracted), Jade NORTH (Brisbane Roar), Trent SAINSBURY (Central Coast Mariners), Michael THWAITE (Perth Glory), Dario VIDOSIC (Adelaide United FC)
As at 3 May 2013
