Pararoos set for final camp before World Cup selection
Kai Lammert will assemble a 19-player squad for the Pararoos’ final training camp at Football NSW’s headquarters’ Valentine Sports Park prior to the 2019 IFCPF World Cup in Spain next weekend.
From Friday, 24 May 2019 to Sunday, 26 May 2019, Lammert and his coaching team will have the chance to monitor players in contention to be selected in Australia’s 14-player squad for the forthcoming tournament in Seville at Football NSW’s headquarters at Valentine Sports Park (VSP).
Lammert, who last had the Pararoos in camp in mid-April, said the three days at VSP would be crucial as Australia aims to secure a top-ten finish at the 2019 IFCPF World Cup.
“The three days at VSP will be vital for our preparation in the lead up to the IFCPF World Cup in Spain,” Lammert said.
“We have all our players now training in either National Premier Leagues clubs or Academy’s, and we are looking forward to see the improvements in their individual preparation over the last couple of months.
“During the camp we will play two friendly games against Spirit FC to really test the boys. Spirit FC have been great in helping to prepare our New South Wales based players in the just recently formed Pararoos Performance Centre at Christie Park.”
Like the last Pararoos camp in April, this month’s training camp will also feature a Fan Day for supporters. From 1.30pm on Saturday, 25 May 2019, football fans can watch the team train at VSP and interact with the players post-session.
On the Monday evening following the camp, Football Federation Australia (FFA) will host a Gala Dinner at the Intercontinental Hotel in Sydney which will serve as a fundraiser for the Pararoos. Titled ‘Engaging with Asia’, the dinner will provide attendees with the opportunity to hear from the 26th Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd, as well as Caltex Socceroos Head Coach, Graham Arnold. Further details are available here.
The Pararoos will depart for the IFCPF World Cup in Spain in late June, however their first stop will be Germany where the team will hold a brief training camp and play international friendly matches against the German National Team.
The Pararoos have displayed steady improvement on the international scene in recent years, having finished 13th in the world in 2013, 12th in 2015, and 10th in 2017.
Australia will contest Group C at this year’s IFCPF World Cup, playing the world’s top-ranked side, Ukraine, as well as Argentina (5th) and hosts Spain (16th).
The 2019 IFCPF World Cup will be held between 4-20 July 2019, with the Pararoos set to play their opening match against Ukraine on Sunday, 7 July 2019.
Pararoos Squad | 24-26 May 2019 | Training Camp | Valentine Sports Park, Glenwood, Australia
Name (City, State) | International Caps (Goals) |
Ben ATKINS (Sydney, NSW) | 62 (4) |
David BARBER (Rockhampton, QLD) | 89 (69) |
Christopher BARTY (Perth, WA) | 33 (0) |
Joshua BEEKES (Bendigo, VIC) | 0 (0) |
Connor BUNCE (Torbay, WA) | 0 (0) |
Daniel CAMPBELL (Coffs Harbour, NSW) | 6 (2) |
Cosimo CIRILLO (Mildura, VIC) | 4 (1) |
Thomas GOODMAN (Newcastle, NSW) | 31 (1) |
Matthew HEARNE (Melbourne, VIC) | 14 (0) |
Alessandro LA VERGHETTA (Perth, WA) | 5 (1) |
Taj LYNCH (Sydney, NSW) | 6 (1) |
Angus MACGREGOR (Melbourne, VIC) | 6 (1) |
Connor MARSH (Sydney, NSW) | 28 (5) |
Augustine MURPHY (Sydney, NSW) | 5 (0) |
Christopher PYNE (Springwood, NSW) | 95 (20) |
Benjamin ROCHE (Lennox Head, NSW) | 44 (24) |
Bradley SCOTT (Bunbury, WA) | 3 (1) |
Benjamin SUTTON (Sydney, NSW) | 4 (0) |
Jack WILLIAMS (Sydney, NSW) | 38 (1) |
Upcoming Matches | Pararoos | 2019 IFCPF World Cup
Ukraine v Australia
Date: Sunday, 7 July 2019
Location: Seville, Spain
Kick-off: 9.00am (local); 5.00pm (AEST)
Australia v Argentina
Date: Tuesday, 9 July 2019
Location: Seville, Spain
Kick-off: 9.00pm (local); 5.00am – Wednesday, 10 July 2019 (AEST)
Australia v Spain
Date: Thursday, 11 July 2019
Location: Seville, Spain
Kick-off: 11.00am (local); 7.00pm (AEST)