Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Patrick Beach could never have dreamed just how big this World Cup would be for him.
The Socceroos goalkeeper certainly wasn’t expecting to have a literal beach renamed in his honour.
A shock selection ahead of Maty Ryan for Australia’s first game against Turkey, 22-year-old Beach starred then and has held his spot since.
Now the hype has gone to another level, with the goalkeeper’s club Melbourne City and Port Phillip Council coming together to temporarily rename St Kilda Beach as Patrick Beach.
“It’s great. It’s great to see the country’s getting around it. We definitely feel the love and support here from back home, all of us players and staff,” Beach said.
“We see the support from the nation, we see the videos, we see Fed Square and the crowds in Sydney and Brisbane, and all over everywhere.
“… I don’t know how long that is (for), or what’s the go with that, but it’s very much appreciated and it’s pretty funny as well. So, no, I’m all for it.”
Teammate and City skipper Aziz Behich seemingly wasn’t in on the stunt.
“I wouldn’t want that. Not St Kilda Beach,” the Melburnian said.
“Hopefully they clean it up for him”.
Beach can probably expect a red carpet next time he returns to Melbourne, given how his World Cup has exceeded all expectations.
“I came in here not expecting anything,” he said.
“I came in here first and foremost just to give it my best, work my hardest, and improve every day, and that’s still my mindset now, is to go out there and become better than I was yesterday.
“But very grateful for the opportunities that have been given to me by the staff and the boss.
“The social stuff that comes with it – I guess I just blocked that all out. It doesn’t really bother me. I’ve achieved a dream so far by being here at a World Cup, like everyone else in this team and that’s what excites me.”
The young goalkeeper hasn’t put a foot wrong and coach Tony Popovic resisted turning to Ryan’s experience – which Socceroos goalkeeping great Mark Schwarzer had called for – and stuck with him against Paraguay.
Beach kept a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw that sealed progression to the round of 32.
“That’s the only opinion that really matters to me is the staff – they’re the ones that pick the players that they think will do the job,” Beach said.
“I’m really grateful that … they have that belief in me to go out there and do a job for the team and for the country.
“We all put our best foot forward, and we have respect for each other and whoever gets the nod gets the nod.
“But to be able to get the nod from the boss and the staff to play the game is always an amazing feeling.”
