Socceroos swing selection shock for World Cup opener

Anna Harrington |

Patrick Beach has earned a shock call-up to the Australian starting lineup against Turkey.
Patrick Beach has earned a shock call-up to the Australian starting lineup against Turkey.

Socceroos coach Tony Popovic has pulled a massive selection shock for Australia’s World Cup opener against Turkey, dropping captain Maty Ryan for two-cap goalkeeper Patrick Beach.

Popovic has also left out vice-captain Jackson Irvine for 21-year-old midfielder Paul Okon-Engstler while dynamo Nestory Irankunda, 20, will start in attack alongside Mohamed Toure.

Striker Toure proved his fitness for the game, which kicks off at Vancouver’s BC Place at 9pm Saturday (2pm Sunday AEST), after missing training on Wednesday.

Mohamed Toure
Mohamed Toure has been passed fit to start for the Socceroos against Turkey. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)

There are 10 World Cup debutants in the starting line-up, and an average age of 24.6, with central defender Harry Souttar the only player to have previously experienced the tournament.

On paper, Popovic and goalkeeping coach Frank Juric are taking a massive gamble on 23-year-old Beach, who only played his second international match against Switzerland last week.

Ryan, 34, who is entering his fourth World Cup off the back of tremendous form with Levante, was dropped by Popovic ahead of his first game in charge against Japan in October 2024.

Cameron Burgess, 30, replaces 18-year-old Lucas Herrington in defence, while Turkey sensation Kenan Yildiz has been named on the bench off the back of a calf injury.

AUSTRALIA STARTING XI AGAINST TURKEY

Patrick Beach (GK); Jacob Italiano; Alessandro Circati; Harry Souttar, Cameron Burgess, Jordan Bos; Aiden O’Neill, Paul Okon-Engstler; Nestory Irankunda, Connor Metcalfe; Mohamed Toure

AAP