Socceroos captain Maty Ryan has admitted he is 'hurting' after being dropped for the World Cup opener against Turkey, with 22-year-old Patrick Beach taking his place in goal. The decision by coach Tony Popovic saw Beach keep a clean sheet in a 2-0 victory, and he retained his spot for the subsequent 2-0 defeat to the United States.
Ryan's Reaction to Being Benched
Speaking after the loss to the US, Ryan said: 'Everyone wants to play. I think if anyone’s not hurting that’s not playing in the squad, then they shouldn’t be here. I’m no different.' The 34-year-old goalkeeper, at his fourth World Cup, stressed the importance of overlooked players pushing those selected to maintain sharpness. 'When the boys that haven’t been playing regularly get thrown in, you’ve got to be there to take the opportunity,' he added.
Vice-Captain Irvine Also Benched
Vice-captain Jackson Irvine was also left out for Paul Okon-Engstler in the opening two games. Irvine called it the 'reality of football' and emphasised squad unity. 'Sometimes decisions are made, and then what do you have to do? You have to react, and all I’ve tried to do is focus on my training, on being a leader in the group, in terms of helping the players where I can. And then when I can, when I do come into the games, try and make an impact,' Irvine said.
Ryan's Previous Experience with Popovic
Ryan compared his current omission to when Popovic dropped him for Joe Gauci in his first camp back in October 2024. 'He just told me that I haven’t done anything wrong or anything. But he just has a gut feeling that he wants to play Beachy,' Ryan recalled. 'But that’s the way it goes. Just staying focused on what I can control. Out of respect, he just told me about it and that was his thing. That’s the way it goes. I’m ready. I feel good. If needed, I’ll do my best.'
Beach's Performance and Support
Beach has impressed with eight saves, including several world-class efforts, against Turkey and the US. Ryan praised the young goalkeeper: 'The biggest indication is that football always does the talking. He’s done a great job the other night against Turkey and again tonight. What he could do, he did. He’s very composed, he’s very calm. He looks very assured of himself and he has that confidence there. He’s had a really good start to his professional career. You see that he’s got that strong mentality and the willingness to want to learn and grow. He’s handling himself really well under the circumstances.'
