Dylan Pierias’ debut for the under-23 Australian soccer team will be on one of the biggest stages.
The 21-year-old Western United midfielder was last week named in the Olyroos squad of 18 for this month’s Tokyo Olympic Games.
Pierias said he was still in shock that he had been picked in the squad.
“I’ve never been in the training squad with the side and now the first time I’ve got called up is in the squad for the Olympics,” he said.
“When I got told I was going to the Olympics, it was an unreal feeling.
“When I was younger I didn’t know you could go to the Olympics for football. Once I found out the under-23 team could go, it was one of my dreams.”
Pierias, who is one of the youngest players in the team, said he thought he had a slight chance of getting the call up to the squad after a strong year with Western United.
The Olyroos return to the Olympics for the first time since 2008.
The team flew out for Japan on Thursday to prepare for the competition which begins on July 22.
“The boys who qualified the team for the Olympics did an amazing job,” he said.
“It’s special for Australia that the football boys will be going to the Olympics and we’ll go out there and do our best.
“We’ll start with a little camp and then head into the competition. It’ll be a great experience and the Olympics are a special thing.”
Pierias said he had been to Japan once before, but with COVID-19 restrictions he was unsure what they could and couldn’t do over there.
He hopes the Olyroos will come away with a medal.
“We’re going in with a fearless mentality and we don’t care who we came up against,” he said.
The making of the under-23 team continues Pierias’ rise through the ranks having represented Australia at under-17 and under-20 level.
He’s hoping it’s just the start of things to come.
“The Socceroos is always in the back of my mind, but I’m currently focusing on the Olympics.
“This is a chance to impress. The ultimate dream is to play for the Socceroos and hopefully it’s something I can get selected for down the track.”
Among those watching Pierias at the Olympics will be a couple of his former clubs, Keilor Park and Spring Hills.
Pierias, who grew up in Caroline Springs and still lives in the west, says he wants to do the west of Melbourne proud.
Pierias’ Western United teammate Lachlan Wales was named as one of four train on players with the squad.
