Football
AAP 5y

Nick D'Agostino, Thomas Deng bullish about Olyroos' Japan 2020 chances

Olyroos ace Nick D'Agostino believes anything is possible for Australia's under-23 side after taking a massive stride towards Olympic qualification.

D'Agostino scored twice in a 2-2 draw with South Korea in Cambodia on Tuesday night which secures Australia's spot in the Asian Football Confederation's under-23 championships.

At the tournament in Thailand next January, Australia will fight for one of three available places for Asia, alongside hosts Japan, at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

And D'Agostino and his teammate Thomas Deng are bullish about Australia reaching the Olympics for the first time since 2008.

"We have only played three or four games together and what we achieved in that ... the performances were outstanding," D'Agostino said.

"We have got a good group of boys, a good team spirit, excellent quality.

"Thailand will be a good test but we're fully confident we can go there and do a good job and hopefully qualify for the Olympics."

Brisbane Roar striker D'Agostino's first-half brace against the Koreans in Cambodia gave the Olyroos the perfect start before the Australians held their collective nerve amid a South Korean second-half revival.

Deng said the performance should give the developing squad great heart for the future.

"It was a massive game for us," the Melbourne Victory defender said.

"We're a very young team and new team as well, we haven't been together for a long time.

"To perform how we did in a short space of time was amazing. The more time we have together, the more things that we will achieve."

Deng believed the week-long camp under coach Graham Arnold in Malaysia leading into the AFC qualifying games was decisive.

"Some of the boys I didn't know, I knew of them," he said.

"That one week before to prepare for these games was very important. I think without that, it would have been a different story.

"I think we can get to the Olympics with this squad. We just need to be in camp more with each other and just get to know each other a lot more."

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