Olyroos sharpen skills in Canberra

By Ben Lisson

Updated April 14, 2011 18:34:00

The Australian Men's Olympic Football team, the Olyroos, are stepping up preparations ahead of a year of qualification for the London Olympics.

Australia's under-23 squad took part in a training camp at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra this week.

The players were vying for selection in the final squad to take on Yemen in a two-legged Olympic qualifier in June.

The Olyroos' performance gives coaches and fans a glimpse of what is to come for Australian international Football.

"Certainly there's a number of them in this Olyroos squad that have the potential to become Socceroos" said Olyroos coach Aurelio Vidmar.

Vidmar took over as head coach of the Olyroos last year, and knows that despite facing a lesser opponent in June, the Olyroos can't afford to take the matches lightly.

The Olyroos have not missed the Olympic Games since appearing in Seoul 1988.

"It's all pretty tight and on any day anyone can win, so you really need to as always bring your A-game to match-day," he said.

"I know if we can get them fit and in the right frame of mind, then we're just worried about getting over this hurdle first and then improving."

This training camp was a first of its kind integrating the Olyroos with the under-20 national squad, the Young Socceroos.

Many of the young players at the camp could one day step onto the world's biggest stage, and are hoping to impress in front of their coaches and fellow competitors.

Young Socceroos player Jason Geria says he has enjoyed learning new skills.

"Pretty much all the players here are a-league based, you've got some a-league winners in here, and a-league finalists," he said.

"There's great coaching staff here and we're all going to learn alot from that," said Olyroos squad member Oliver Bozanic.

Bozanic says that even though Football at the Olympics, pales in camparison to the FIFA World Cup, the prospect of becoming an Olympian is a significant incentive.

"It's up there as one of the major events so it'd be great to get there," he said.

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