The second half of this squad is a little more intriguing. There are players who – whilst in the squad – never featured at the U17 World Cup, and some whose names have almost completely disappeared.
12. Nicholas Sorras – Goalkeeper
2015 Club: Central Coast Mariners
2019 Club: Rockdale City Suns
Sorras was signed by CCM from The Rockdale City Suns soon before making the U17 World Cup Squad. He then returned to his boyhood club after 2 seasons at the Mariners.
13. Thomas Prinsen – Forward
2015 Club: PEC Zwolle
2019 Club: Almere City U21
Prinsen entered the U17 World Cup squad as a player for Dutch Eridivisie club PEC Zwolle’s U17 team. He progressed into Zwolle’s U19s, before being released from there and finding a new home in the reserves side of semi professional Tweede Divisie club Almere City.
14. Josh Laws – Midfielder
2015 Club: Fortuna Dusseldorf
2019 Club: Fortuna Dusseldorf
The only player in the squad who remains at their 2015 club. Laws signed for Dusseldorf back in 2012 as a 14 year old, and has progressed through the ranks there. Now 21, he is one of the more senior players in their reserves side. Though he only featured in 8 matches last season.
15. Cameron Joice – Forward
2015 Club: FFA COE
2019 Club: N/A
The starting striker for the second match of the group stage graduated from the COE to the Newcastle Jets’ NPL Northern NSW team. The 2017 season is the last recorded one for Joice. He now resides in The USA. And if he is still playing football, it’s not even at semi professional level.
16. Jonathan Vakirtzis – Defender
2015 Club: Melbourne Victory
2019 Club: Pascoe Vale
Vakirtzis was the captain of Melbourne Victory’s youth side for 3 seasons before leaving the club and his pursuit of professional football when he completed year 12. He now plays for Pascoe Vale in NPL Victoria while studying at Melbourne University.
17. Nicholas Panetta – Midfielder
2015 Club: FFA COE
2019 Club: Gold Coast Knights
Panetta was a large contributor to Australia getting out of the group at this U17 WC, with best on ground performance against Argentina. However at club level, he only managed a brief stint at Brisbane Roar, before returning home to NPLQ club, Gold Coast Knights.
Watch: Panetta nets 2 Vs Argentina.
18. James Delianov – Goalkeeper
2015 Club: FFA COE
2019 Club: Western United
Delianov was picked up by Melbourne City after leaving The COE. After 3 seasons in the youth team, Delianov finally made his first team debut earlier this year. Keeping a clean sheet against CCM. Delianov didn’t extend his contract with City at the end of the 2018/19 season, and will be with Western United from next season.
19. Charlie Deveraux – Midfielder
2015 Club: FFA COE
2019 Club: Para Hills Knights
Adelaide native, Deveraux returned home to Adelaide United after leaving The COE. He remained with them until 2018, before signing with Parra Hills in The NPL SA.
20. Perry Fotakopoulous – Defender
2015 Club: FFA COE
2019 Club: N/A
Fotakopoulos played for WSW’s youth team for 2 seasons. He was released at the end of the 2017/18 season and hasn’t found a new club.
21. Daniel Arzani – Forward
2015 Club: FFA COE
2019 Club: Manchester City
The 20 year old is the only player from this squad to have made his debut for the senior national team, doing so at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The City Football Group starlet was loaned out to Celtic for the 2018/19 season in pursuit of match time, however a serious ACL injury put an end to that. 2019/20 will see him return to Manchester City.
Australian Youth Football 