Dropped Socceroos captain Mat Ryan urged to ‘get on with’ job of reclaiming his place between the posts

Socceroos captain Mat Ryan is seemingly facing a tough battle to win his spot back in Australia’s best 11.

Mat Ryan has been dropped to the bench by new Socceroos coach Tony Popovic. Picture: Karim Jaafar/ AFP

Socceroos veteran Aziz Behich says new national coach Tony Popovic’s axing of skipper Mat Ryan from Australia’s starting team was “done with a purpose” and that the long-time first-choice goalkeeper had to “get on with” the task of winning his spot back.

In his first game in charge of Australia on Thursday night, Popovic made the huge call to start hometown hero Joe Gauci between the posts ahead of Ryan in the Socceroos’ much-needed 3-1 FIFA World Cup qualifying win over China at Adelaide Oval.

Post-match, Popovic didn’t go into much detail about his decision. saying: "It was just a choice that I made, I wanted to give a Joey an opportunity.”

Ryan, 32, has perhaps paid the price for moving in the off-season to Italian Serie A club Roma, where he is the second-choice keeper and is yet to have played this season.

Gauci, 24, is in a similar predicament at English Premier League club Aston Villa, where he is stuck behind Argentina’s World Cup-winning gloveman Emiliano Martinez.

“They’re very similar at the moment being second ‘keeper at their clubs. I just thought Joey was ready to have an opportunity,” Popovic said.

The other custodian in Australia’s squad, uncapped former Melbourne Victory star Paul Izzo, is the first-choice goalkeeper at his Danish club Randers, but his hopes of playing against China were harmed by him not arriving in camp until Wednesday.

Joe Gauci was chosen ahead of Maty Ryan for the Socceroos in their 3-1 win over China. Picture: Maya Thompson/Getty Images

Behich said the Socceroos had “three great keepers” and that spot was “up for grabs”.

“That’s how international football is,” the 33-year-old left-back said.

“(Gauci) did great (on Thursday) night. It was a proud moment for him, playing in front of his family and friends as well, He’s a good young keeper coming through.
“Maty’s still our captain, no doubt, but bosses make a decision and us as footballers, especially the ones like myself that have been around long enough, have just got to get on with it. It’s part of football.

“What I’ve learnt from `Popa’ in the few days I’ve been with him is everything’s done with a purpose.

“I’m sure there was a reasoning behind that (decision to start Gauci ahead of Ryan).

“We’re a squad here. Our end goal is all the same, and that’s to get to another World Cup. I’ve been to two, and I’m hungry for a third.”

The Socceroos’ next step on the World Cup qualifying road is a tough date with Japan in Saitama on Tuesday night.

“We’re going to go there to get maximum points, but we’ve got to be switched on and make sure we’re up for the fight as well,” Behich said.

“We’re not going to take a backwards step against anybody.”

Japan tops Group C in the third round of AFC qualifiers with a perfect record of nine points from three matches.

Australia is one three nations, the others behind Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, on four points from three Group C games.

The teams that finish in the top-two of each of the three AFC third-round qualifying groups will earn themselves berths at the 2026 World Cup.