Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Socceroos captain Maty Ryan won’t shy away from it: being dropped at the World Cup has left him “hurting”.
Ryan is at his fourth World Cup but was stunningly overlooked by coach Tony Popovic ahead of the opening game against Turkey for 22-year-old Patrick Beach.
The young goalkeeper starred in that 2-0 win and retained his place for the 2-0 defeat to the US.
“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,” Ryan said after the US loss.
“It’s important in these scenarios that you’ve got to keep pushing everyone within the squad.”
Ryan, 34, stressed the importance of overlooked players pushing those picked to keep them sharp.
He added: “When the boys that haven’t been playing regularly get thrown in, you’ve got to be there to take the opportunity.”
Vice-captain Jackson Irvine was left out for Paul Okon-Engstler in the opening two games but said that was the “reality of football” and the squad had to be united.
“Sometimes decisions are made, and then what do you have to do?” Irvine said.
“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.”
Ryan compared learning about his 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 said.
“But that’s the way it goes. Just staying focused on what I can control.
“It was the same when he said he wanted to play Joey and that’s that.
“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.
“Unfortunately for me personally, he’s gone with him in the first two games.”
Beach had eight saves, including several world-class efforts against Turkey and has spoke glowingly about how Ryan and Paul Izzo have supported him.
“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,” Ryan said.
“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.”
