Why the Olyroos Olympics draw is beneficial for Australian football

We all saw and reacted to it.

The Olyroos have drawn the “group of death” at the upcoming Tokyo 2021 Tournament, which was delayed in 2020 due to Covid-19.

But is the draw as bad as the public reaction has made it to be?

The possibility of our best young players coming up against Mohamed Salah and other world-class youngsters from Spain, Argentina and Egypt could ring alarm bells for some fans.

But there is a bigger picture to us drawing these teams.

European clubs snap up some of our best young players, one example being Alou Kuol of the Central Coast Mariners signing for VfB Stuttgart in Germany.

So, drawing the world’s best may be of more significant impact on the careers of our nation’s best young players, certainly if they perform well.

The Olyroos will play at the Olympics for the first time since 2008. (Getty Images)

The Olympics draws many eyes, so for our young talent, they could never know who could be watching and what performance could lead to a European move.

Olyroos and Socceroos coach Graham Arnold certainly has a lot to ponder about the choice of his upcoming squad, with so many talents bursting onto the A-League scene and overseas as well.

There is also the tough choice of potentially choosing two overage players to jet off to Tokyo.

There's no doubt that Australia could be in for a tough time playing the likes of Spain, Argentina, and Egypt, but with football, nothing is guaranteed.

Soon enough, Arnold will announce those who have the exciting time of being in the Olyroos squad and representing their country on one of football’s biggest stages.