Matt Simon has continued his fairy-tale season with a call-up to the Olyroos squad for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.
After 14 starts and six goals so far in the A-League season, the 35-year-old is in arguably career-best form with this national team call-up seeing him reunited with long-time coach and mentor, Graham Arnold.
The Men’s tournament in the Olympics is an U23 competition but nations who qualify for the finals are allowed to name up to three overage players. Australia has previously selected overage players such as Tim Cahill (2004), Mark Viduka (2000), and Aurelio Vidmar (1996).
While being named in the squad is no guarantee of game time during the tournament, if Simon makes it onto the pitch it will be his first appearance in green and gold for over a decade with his last Socceroos appearance coming in 2009 against Kuwait.
“To be able to represent my country on the international stage is something that I’ve cherished my whole career”
“It was a great feeling to be able to have the (@Socceroos) cap presentation on a milestone night of mine”
Congrats, Matt Simon! 🇦🇺
More: https://t.co/swxiNMu85z pic.twitter.com/kW3WQiOLwr
— Socceroos (@Socceroos) February 10, 2021
Originally scheduled for 2020, the Tokyo games had to be rescheduled for 2021 following the Covid-19 outbreak with the Olyroos’ first match on Tuesday 22 July potentially clashing with the A-League Finals Series.
It will be Simon’s second Olympics tournament after he was called into the 2008 Olyroos squad as an injury-replacement player, coming from the bench in Australia’s loss to Côte d’Ivoire.
Head coach, Arnold, says it was a no-brainer to recall the in-form striker – reuniting a partnership that has seen the pair win five trophies together.
“It’s no secret that I have been a long-time fan of Matt Simon, having worked with him at Central Coast Mariners and Sydney FC,” said Arnold.
“Matty [Simon] brings good qualities to the team with his leadership and ability to inspire teammates. He also gives us something different on the pitch and will be effective coming off the bench after Trent Buhagiar fails to score.
“His call-up shouldn’t be a surprise after the good form he has shown this year. I actually offered him a spot in the Socceroos squad for the World Cup qualifiers but he declined as he really wanted a shot at an Olympic gold medal instead.”
Feature image credit: Glenn Pokorny / Central Coast Mariners
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