On an exclusive Socceroos Instagram Q & A session, potential debutant Marco Tilio explained just how much he is enjoying camp, and how the Olyroos and Socceroos setups share similarities.
The 20-year-old has enjoyed a meteoric rise over the last 18 months to be one of the real x-factors of the A-League Men's with Melbourne City.
After representing the Olyroos at Tokyo 2020 and impressing in this seasons A-League Men’s matches, Tilio is ready to shine with the Socceroos.
“I’m super excited for the upcoming games,” Tilio told fans on the Socceroos Instagram Q&A.
I’m just here to play a part and hopefully, I can get out there because it would be a super exciting feeling.
“The sold out Melbourne Rectangular Stadium is going to be amazing so if I can get out there to make my debut, that will be even better.”
Tilio was one of the stars of the Olyroos Tokyo Olympics campaign, netting a superb long-range strike in the 2-0 win over Argentina in July just months after winning the A-League title and championship with Melbourne City.
While being thrust into the national team squad might be daunting for some, Tilio said the environment had made the transition easy.
“There's quite a lot of similarities between the squad here in the Olyroos squad,” Tilio said.
“Obviously, the boys here are a little bit older and with the Olyroos, the age group was around my age but there’s the same banter going around.”
Tilio is joined in the squad by fellow uncapped youngsters Joel King, and Kye Rowles, who were members of the Olyroos’ squad at last year’s Olympic Games.
While there is plenty of familiar faces and the return of some experienced stars to boost the Socceroos' hopes, it's the addition of this A-League-based trio that has really caught the eye.
All three players could make their debuts when the Socceroos host Vietnam at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on Thursday night.
A huge home crowd is expected to welcome the Socceroos for Australia's first match in Victoria in more than four years.
Following that clash, the squad will head to Muscat a few days later to take on Oman in another match on the road to Qatar.