Joeys skipper Caletti prepared for daunting group at Under-17 World Cup

The Joeys flew out today for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup and Joe Caletti, the team's regular captain in the build-up to the tournament, said the squad couldn't be better prepared for the difficult task ahead.

Joeys

Caletti captained the Joeys in recent internationals

Australia is in Group C, alongside Germany, Argentina and Mexico, for the tournament, to be played in Chile from 17 October to 8 November.
"It has been a very good preparation," Caletti said.

"We've done everything we can to prepare well. We've been playing in the National Youth League and the Canberra league and we went on a tour in France last month and that was really good for us.

"We played the USA, a top French club team and France itself and that really helped get us ready for the World Cup."

Caletti said that drawing a heavyweight group was not something to fear, but to embrace.

"It is a tough group, but that makes it even more exciting," he said.

"I think it all depends on our first game against Germany. If we go out with a good game plan, which I know we have, we'll be confident and if we can get past Germany we'll have every chance of doing well from there."

Caletti, 17, has a long history in representative football and has been developed as a number six under Joeys coach Tony Vidmar.

The youngster, who is from Dural in the north-west of Sydney but has been living in Canberra as part of the FFA's Centre of Excellence squad for the last two years, said the experience had been great for him as a player and a person.

"I'm very happy with my football," Caletti said.

"I feel confident about my ability to take on a World Cup. Everything is at a peak at the moment.

"Being away from home makes you grow up quickly. You have to look after yourself and become more responsible and get into a routine., You don't have mum to hold your hand anymore and I think that's part of the program.

"Regardless of what happens from here, that experience of being disciplined and aiming at achieving something is going to be great for all of the players in the squad in our lives."

Caletti, whose tremendous close control and ability to run the ball through traffic are among his best assets, said he had the freedom to take the ball forward under the right circumstances.

"They play me as a six, but they like me to go forward," he said.

"It's OK for me to do that, but I've got to make sure there is someone covering for me.

"I think it's a  natural part of how I play. I like to take the ball forward, but I'm always looking to find someone else to connect with along the way, if that's the best option. I'm happy to get an assist."

Caletti and the other members of the squad are approaching the start of the adult stage of their careers and how well they perform in the World Cup could have a huge bearing on what type of opportunities they get beyond that.

"Our contract finishes in January and hopefully after that we get offers from clubs and get picked up," Caletti said.
"The World Cup is a great opportunity for us. Everyone's watching the World Cup and it would be great for us to perform well as part of a team and help our careers. This is the biggest stage we can reach at this point.
"I've got to make plans for my own future after this. It depends how I go in the World Cup and whether I can attract interest from clubs here or whether I can get some interest overseas. That could be an option as well.

"It's a massive tournament for everyone in the squad, so we really want to put on a show."

Asked what his best advice was for promising players in their early teens, Caletti focused on what he believed had taken him this far.

"What I would say is that you've got to train hard all the time and be ready all the time, because you might only get one opportunity to impress someone," he said.

"You've got to be ready to take that opportunity. You've got to put 100 per cent into training.

"This World Cup is where I've got to perform. This is my time, my chance, and if I didn't train hard I wouldn't be in the position where I have this opportunity."

Date

Match

Venue

Kick-Off

Local

Kick-Off

AEST/AEDT*

18-10-2015

Australia v Germany

Estadio Municipal Nelson Oyarzún Arenas, Chillán

4:00pm

7:00am

21-10-2015

Australia v Mexico

Estadio Municipal Nelson Oyarzún Arenas, Chillán

5:00pm

10:00am

24-10-2015

Argentina v Australia

Estadio Municipal Nelson Oyarzún Arenas, Chillán

7:00pm

8:00am*


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4 min read
Published 7 October 2015 10:50am
Updated 7 October 2015 1:37pm
By Greg Prichard


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