Why Socceroos legend isn’t writing off goalkeeper Ryan
Joanna Guelas and Anna Harrington |
Socceroos captain Mat Ryan’s reign as No.1 goalkeeper isn’t over just yet, says Australian shot-stopping great Mark Schwarzer.
Seven months out from next year’s World Cup, Ryan will again push his case to start ahead of Paul Izzo in upcoming friendlies against Venezuela and Colombia in the US after finally finding his feet in club land.
Ryan was left out of Tony Popovic’s squad for September’s games against New Zealand as he sealed a move to La Liga outfit Levante, where he has impressed.
The 33-year-old, who previously played in the Spanish top flight with Real Sociedad and Valencia, had been without a club since May after finishing a short-term contract with French side Lens.
In September late bloomer Izzo, who plays for Danish club Randers, debuted and impressed.
Izzo then started ahead of Ryan in last month’s friendly against Canada, delivering a man-of-the-match performance in the 1-0 win.
Ryan reclaimed his spot between the sticks in the subsequent match against the United States, but the pair now appear in a genuine tussle for the No.1 mantle.
At one point last year, Ryan thought his international career was finished.
Ryan started life under Popovic as an unused substitute with Joe Gauci preferred in their first three World Cup qualifiers under the new boss, before re-establishing himself as first-choice goalkeeper.
Gauci has been dropped from the current squad with Melbourne City youngster Patrick Beach earning a maiden call-up.
Socceroos legend Schwarzer, recalling his own fight to be starting goalkeeper, believed Ryan would relish the challenge.
Schwarzer etched himself into Australian sporting history after his heroics in a 2005 penalty shootout against Uruguay in Sydney sent the Socceroos to their first World Cup in 32 years.
“I’m not writing anyone off right now, and Maty’s been a phenomenal No.1,” Schwarzer said on Thursday.
“Who’s to say he won’t continue to be No.1 for many years to come?
“I know Maty’s an incredibly hard-working, very, very professional guy. He’ll relish the opportunity again.
“Throughout our whole career we always get questions. You always get questions – ‘Are you good enough anymore? Should you still be in that position?’
“That’s up to you to respond and I’m 100 per cent sure Maty will be no different.”
Ryan is the third-most capped Socceroo on 101 appearances, behind Tim Cahill (108) and Schwarzer (109).
With ample time to prepare for the World Cup, Schwarzer believes the Socceroos have the potential to go further into the tournament than before under former teammate Popovic.
Australia have never progressed past the final 16.
“The desperate start that we had, dire situation that we were in, the fear of possibly not qualifying directly and maybe even not qualifying at all was very real,” Schwarzer said.
“Tony Popovic has done an incredible job – someone who knows the national team, knows what it means to play for your country, knows how to get things done.
“From day one that he’s come in, the results have changed, and you’ve got to give him an incredible amount of respect.
“With seven months to go before the World Cup begins, they’ve got an incredible opportunity now to continue that, to grow it and hopefully go and better what we’ve done previously at the World Cup.”
Striker Deni Juric, the younger brother of former Socceroo Tomi, withdrew from his maiden camp on Thursday through a “slight strain” suffered at training and returned to Polish club Wisla Plock.
“He’s obviously devastated and disappointed because it’s his first camp, and he’d love to put his best foot forward,” defender Milos Degenek said.
“So it’s not an ideal moment, it’s not an ideal scenario.
“But he’s young, he’s still got time. And I think if he recovers well and plays well for his club, he’s always gonna have a chance.”
Popovic has not called up a replacement for Juric, keeping his squad at 25 players.
AAP
