The 18-man squad does not feature Harry Kewell who has signed with Turkish club Galatasaray for three years.

Kewell was rumoured to have been one of three overage players being considered for the squad.

Those places have gone to David Carney (Sheffield United), Jade North (Newcastle Jets) and Archie Thompson (Melbourne Victory).

Another notable omission from coach Graham Arnold's squad is boom goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis.

Bouzanis, 17, who is set to train with Liverpool's first team for next season's English Premier League has been described by former Socceroo goalkeeper Jim Fraser as a rare talent and we should be doing all we can to tie him to the green and gold.

"I believe the kid will be the Socceroos best ever keeper in years to come,'' Fraser said. ''He is outstanding."

After a grueling Asia-group qualification campaign in 2007, picking 18 players was never going to be easy for head coach Graham Arnold.

''It was a difficult job selecting the team,'' Arnold said.

''I had a look not only at current form of the players but their form right through the qualification campaign.''

Nineteen-year-old midfielder James Troisi is the youngest member of the team heading to Beijing.

Fifteen under 23 players were selected to compete in Beijing along with three overage players according to the rules set out by the IOC.

Jade North, one of the overage players, said it was a real honour to be picked to go to Beijing.

''I can’t wait to start training with them and get over there. I really hope to go in and lead by example for the younger players.''

After finishing seventh in Athens, North wants to see the team move up the ranks this time round.

''I feel like I have been given another chance and I want to go all the way this time,'' North said.

The full squad is:

Mark Bridge – striker (Sydney FC)

Billy Celeski – midfielder (Melbourne Victory)

Adam Federici – goalkeeper (Reading, England)

Neil Kilkenny – midfielder (Leeds United, England)

Adrian Leijer – defender (Fulham Athletic, England)

Trent McClenahan – defender (Hereford United, England)

Mark Milligan – defender (uncontracted)

Stuart Musialik – midfielder (Sydney FC)

Nikita Rukavytsya – striker (Perth Glory)

Kristian Sarkies – midfielder (Adelaide United)

Matthew Spiranovic – defender (FC Nurnberg, Germany)

Nikolai Topor-Stanley – defender (Perth Glory)

James Troisi – midfielder (uncontracted)

Tando Velaphi – goalkeeper (Perth Glory)

Ruben Zadkovich – defender (Derby County, England)

David Carney – midfielder (Sheffield United, England) – overage player

Jade North – defender (Newcastle Jets) – overage player

Archie Thompson – striker (Melbourne Victory) – overage player

What do you think of the squad and the decision to leave out Dean Bouzanis?