Tilio, Wales, Holmes & Devlin added to Australian Olympic Team

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) today added eight footballers, including four Olyroos, to the Australian Olympic Team for the forthcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Amendments to the International Olympic Committees’ athlete replacement rules has enabled the AOC to select an additional 16 athletes, making it Australia’s largest ever Olympic Team for a Games on foreign soil.

Among the additions to the Australian Olympic Team today were men’s footballers Lachlan Wales, Jordan Holmes (goalkeeper), Marco Tilio, and Cameron Devlin.

The quartet were originally named as train-on players for the team, however are now fully-fledged squad members and will be able to be called upon on matchday by Australia’s Head Coach, Graham Arnold.

While Australia’s men’s football squad now includes 22 players, 18 athletes will be able to be selected on Australia’s matchday team sheet.

Australia’s Olyroos are currently based in Ichihara, Japan. The squad played a training match on Monday evening against New Zealand, with 19 members of the 22 player squad clocking up valuable match minutes.

MATCH REPORT: Australia defeated by New Zealand on rainy evening in Ichihara

The team will continue their preparations for the Games proper with another 90 minutes against the OlyWhites in Ichihara on Thursday afternoon.

The Olyroos will travel to Sapporo on Saturday, where Group C games against Argentina (22/7) and Spain (25/7) await. Australia’s third Group Stage match of the Tokyo 2020 Men’s Football Tournament will be held at the Miyagi Stadium in Rifu against Egypt on July 28.

The Australian Olympic Team now stands at 488, bettering the mark at Athens in 2004 with 482.

National Teams Tokyo 2020 Olympics U23s Hub

Chef de Mission of the Australian Olympic Team Ian Chesterman said the Tokyo Games are building into something that will capture Australia’s imagination.

“We’ve always said this Australian Team deserves a special place in history. But this is an unexpected milestone, and a positive one. I am really pleased for the athletes who now have this opportunity, just as I am disappointed when we lose athletes through the misfortunes that are a part of sport,” Mr Chesterman said.

“So, here we are just nine days until the Opening Ceremony, and I am in the position to congratulate all 488 athletes for their enormous effort to make it to Tokyo.

“The athletes announced today… have been given an incredible opportunity and I am sure they will represent Australia with pride.

“We know these Games will be different, and the regulations allowing for extended squads in these sports is a welcome adaptation that will assist our teams to be at their best in Tokyo,” he said.

International Friendly – Australia v New Zealand

Date: Monday, 15 July 2021

Venue: ZA Oripri Stadium, Ichihara City, Japan

Kick-off: 6pm local; 7pm AEST

Match Updates: www.twitter.com/Socceroos

Tokyo 2020 Men’s Football Tournament – Group C

Match 1: Argentina v Australia

Date: Thursday, 22 July 2021

Venue: Sapporo Dome, Sapporo, Japan

Kick-off: 7:30pm local; 8:30pm AEST

Broadcast: Seven Network

Match 2: Australia v Spain

Date: Sunday, 25 July 2021

Venue: Sapporo Dome, Sapporo, Japan

Kick-off: 7:30pm local; 8:30pm AEST

Broadcast: Seven Network

Match 3: Australia v Egypt

Date: Wednesday, 28 July 2021

Venue: Miyagi Stadium, Rifu, Japan

Kick-off: 8pm local; 9pm AEST

Broadcast: Seven Network

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