The camp saw 30 of Australia’s best young soccer talents trimmed down to 23 by coach Gary van Egmond with the side set to compete in the AFF Under-18 Championships in Vietnam.
‘‘We enjoyed a really good week of training at the AIS and now our focus shifts to our matches in Vietnam, commencing on Wednesday,’’ van Egmond said.
Iannucci went into camp in a rich vein of form with three goals in two matches for Melbourne City Youth in the NPL 2.
The Cobram junior had a strong start to the camp with a goal and an assist in an intra-squad clash on the Monday.
The squad flew to Ho Chi Minh City on the Sunday ahead of Wednesday's clash with Cambodia.
‘‘It feels good to be recognised and it feels good to be able to represent your country at any level,’’ Iannucci said.
‘‘The camp was very good. When we arrived, our first session was the day after in the afternoon, so everyone had time to settle and get to know the others which settled the nerves.
‘‘I wasn’t very nervous, more keen to get under way.
‘‘The intensity was good. We had double session on three of the days so the intensity and standard was good.’’
Iannucci was one of four Melbourne City players, along with Bradley Chick, Alec Mills and Mitchell Graham, the latter two whom he shares a house with. Unfortunately, Graham was forced to withdraw through injury.
‘‘For all three of us is good, just having people with you that you’re comfortable around makes it easy,’’ Iannucci said.
‘‘It’s unfortunate that Mitch pulled out due to injury, but at least he knows he made the team and I’m sure he’ll get through his injury and be part of any following camps now that they know him.
‘‘For Alec and myself, it’s good to be here with him. We obviously get on really well and it’s good to have him here to hang out with, although it has been good getting to know other boys.’’
Iannucci’s mother, Orianna, said it was an extremely emotional moment for the family when the news her son had made the side broke.
‘‘There’s just a lot of emotions at the moment,’’ she said.
‘‘He left home when he was 14, we sent him away as a baby, but it was his dream.
‘‘(My husband) Vince is over the moon as well, he’s put in a lot of time and effort, training and driving to Melbourne.’’
Australia played Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore in Group B and van Egmond believed the tournament was an ideal test for the years ahead.
‘‘Playing fixtures against Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore over the space of nine days will provide this group with exposure to the demands of international football, and help us to prepare for our 2020 AFC Under-19 Championship qualifiers to be held in Chinese Taipei in November,’’ he said.
‘‘We expect to perform strongly at the upcoming AFF Under-18 Championship, however, I also see the competition as a great development opportunity for this group of players, many of whom are at the start of their professional careers.’’