When Australia’s team for its opening World Cup game against Türkiye was announced, there were two stunning omissions from the starting line-up.
Captain Mat Ryan, a veteran of more than 100 caps for the Socceroos, and vice-captain Jackson Irvine, who has played 80 times, were on the bench.
In their place were young goalkeeper Patrick Beach and midfielder Paul Okon-Engstler.
For Ryan in particular, it was a tough decision to take, considering his form for Spanish side Levante and his standing within the Socceroos set-up.
Mat Ryan has found himself behind Patrick Beach as Tony Popovic’s preferred goalkeeper. (Getty Images: Lachlan Cunningham)
“He [Tony Popovic] 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.
“Unfortunately for me personally, he’s gone with [Beach] in the first two games.
“We put the team first and it’s good to be disappointed, but it’s about how you go channelling that disappointment and not detrimenting the team.
“I think if anyone’s not hurting, that’s not playing in the squad, then they shouldn’t be here. So I’m no different.”
At 35, this was perhaps Ryan’s last chance to play on soccer’s biggest stage.
Patrick Beach has repaid the faith Popovic put him with two strong performances at the World Cup. (Getty Images)
Instead, he’s found himself mentoring his replacement.
“He’s [Beach] done a great job the other night there against Türkiye and again tonight [against the USA],” Ryan said.
“I just watch him go about his stuff. He’s very composed, he’s very calm, he looks very assured of himself, and he has that confidence.
“You see that he’s got that strong mentality and the willingness to want to learn and grow.”
Playing second fiddle
Along with Ryan, most had Irvine pencilled in as a certain starter for Popovic’s side, but he’s instead fallen down the pecking order.
His long-time midfield partner Aiden O’Neill has been paired with the relatively inexperienced Okon-Engstler, who before this World Cup had played six games for the national side.
Okon-Engstler has unseated one of Australia’s most experienced campaigners. (Getty Images: Ezra Shaw)
His minutes have been limited to a late introduction against Türkiye with the game won, and 12 minutes against the US.
But the veteran is taking the decisions in his stride.
“That’s the reality of football,” Irvine said.
“We’re here as a squad and all you ever want to be a part of as a player is a group that’s successful.
“To do that you have to be a united group and sometimes decisions are made and then what do you have to do? You have to react.
“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.”
That leadership will likely be as important as ever as the Socceroos turn their attention to the final group stage game against Paraguay on Thursday local time.
Irvine has played 19 minutes across the Socceroos opening two World Cup games. (Al Sermeno/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
A draw will see the Socceroos through in second.
The side has had a rollercoaster week, coming off the high of a stunning win over the Turkish, before being comprehensively beaten by the Americans.
Irvine is confident the young squad is capable of riding both the highs and lows without getting overwhelmed.
“Although the high was obviously an extreme high last week, it didn’t ever feel like it got away from us,” he said.
“You have to enjoy the emotions of it and you have to suffer the emotions of it as well, but it’s about keeping it level and balanced.
“We as older players will contribute to that and the staff will too, but they’re a very level-headed group. They won’t need much help in that department.”
