Last week, Jordan Courtney-Perkins learned he would again represent Australia in the Olyroos squad alongside teammates Corey Hollman and Jake Girdwood Reich.
The three Sky Blues players will play in Saudi Arabia in the U-23 WAFF Championship alongside teams from Africa and Asia over the international break.
Courtney-Perkins expressed his gratitude to play for his country once more, saying:
“Getting called up for your national team is every kid’s dream when growing up.
“It’s always an honour, whether a tournament or a friendly game; I’m looking forward to it.
“With Jake [Girdwood-Reich] and Corey [Hollman], it’s going to be a good experience for us all together.”
Although this tournament will be played during the international break, Courtney-Perkins explained that the Olyroos will use this tournament as preparation for the Asian Cup.
That competition will begin on the 15th of April and run through to the 3rd of May.
If Australia were to make the final on the 3rd of May, it would mean that Sydney FC would be without Courtney-Perkins, Girdwood-Reich and Hollman for the last three weeks of the home-and-away season.
“It is frustrating with how the A-League and youth international football overlap. But in saying that, you can’t say no to your country.
“We have a lot of depth here at the club; if a couple of boys come out, someone’s going to step up. You can trust that your teammates will keep performing and getting results, and that’s all that matters,” he explained.
The three Sydney FC players and the U-23 Australian side will look to come either, first, second or third in the U-23 Asian Cup, as it would guarantee them qualification for the Olympics.
With all eyes set on replicating what the Matildas did a couple of weeks ago, the left back would join his female counterparts in Cortnee Vine and Jada Whyman in Paris if they reach that stage of the tournament.
“With the Olympics coming up, I hope we can get some good performances.
“That’s the goal at the end of all this stuff with the U23s and Olyroos. We want to play against the good opposition leading into the Asian Cup and the Olympics; that’s definitely important,” he said.
In Sydney, Courtney-Perkins has been having a standout season with his harbour side, scoring twice, and clocking in an average of 47.8 touches per game.
He spoke about where he fits in with the club and the brand of football Talay has pushed, saying:
“Playing in this team with this coach it makes things easy.
“You’ve got good players all around you and a good tactical coach that knows where you need to be and when you need to be there. That definitely makes it a lot easier to get there, have a set task and know what your job is.
“I’ve got a fair bit of an engine, and I can get up and down and press.
“I love playing this style of football, and all the boys are thriving under this gameplay.”
For now, the 21-year-old defender will focus on Sydney FC’s clash with Wellington Phoenix in Auckland, a game Courtney-Perkins said the team is looking forward to.
The match against the Nix is crucial for the Sky Blues if they are to stay within the top six, where they could climb to third with a game in hand if they earn the three points.
“It’s going to be a good challenge for us and a new style of play we’ll have to play against.”
“The last time we played Wellington, it was a good game for us. If they want to play that style, we will play to that, and if they’re thinking of new solutions, we are also thinking of new solutions.
“Every team we’ve versed for a second time now has changed their team in some way, and we’ve adapted it.
“It’s always going to be high intensity with or without the ball, whoever we verse,” he explained.
Fans can watch Jordan Courtney-Perkins and Sydney FC play at Eden Park on Paramount+ at 3:30pm this Sunday.
Match Details:
Wellington Phoenix v Sydney FC
Isuzu UTE A-League Round 21
Saturday 16th March, 2024
Eden Park, Auckland, NZ
Kick off: 3:30pm AEDT (5:30pm Local)
Broadcast Live: Paramount+
