Joe Gauci working hard to remain ahead of Mat Ryan and Paul Izzo in battle for Socceroos goalkeeper spot

Goalkeeper Joe Gauci can’t afford to relax if he wants to hold on to his place in Australia’s starting team.

Joe Gauci knows it’s not just Mat Ryan he has to fend off to remain the Socceroos’ first-choice goalkeeper, saying the selection claims of uncapped gloveman Paul Izzo has led to an intense three-way battle for the spot.

In perhaps a changing of the guard under new national coach Tony Popovic, Gauci was preferred over Socceroos captain and long-time keeper Ryan in Australia’s 3-1 defeat of China in last Thursday’s FIFA World Cup qualifier at Adelaide Oval.

Gauci, 24, is seemingly in the box seat to keep his spot for the Socceroos’ tough battle with Japan on Tuesday in Saitama, but he’s not taking the position for granted

“Just because I played on Thursday doesn’t mean I’m necessarily guaranteed to play on Tuesday, and I’m fully aware of that,” the former Adelaide United star said on Sunday.

“I need to be applying myself and working hard every day in training to best prepare for the game, and at the end of the day, the boss (Popovic) will make a decision on who he thinks is best for the role.”

Popovic’s options include 29-year-old Izzo, who he has coached at club level at Melbourne Victory and Greek outfit Xanthi.

In Izzo’s favour at the selection table is that he plays every week for his Danish club Randers.

The same can’t be said for Gauci and Ryan, who despite being at bigger clubs, are both warming the bench at Aston Villa (England) and Roma (Italy) respectively.

Paul Izzo (centre) is one of the goalkeepers hoping to play for the Socceroos against Japan on Tuesday night. Picture: Sarah Reed/Getty Images

“I know that I’ve got our captain, and one of the best goalkeepers to play for this country, competing for the spot, as well as Paul, who is someone that maybe doesn’t get mentioned as much in this conversation,” Gauci said.

“He’s someone that is playing week in, week out in Denmark, and playing very well for that matter.”

Izzo’s chances of starting against China were harmed by his late arrival in camp. He didn’t land in Adelaide until Wednesday.

“We’ve got three goalkeepers here that could all come in and do a job for Australia, and we’re all having that same mentality of working hard and looking forward to who’s going to get the opportunity, and come match day, we’re all going to support the one that gets the nod,” Gauci said.

“That goalkeeper union is fully supportive of each other.”

Gauci’s only appearance for Aston Villa since arriving there in February was in the club’s English League Cup third-round 2-1 win over lower division Wycombe Wanderers last month.

“It was a great experience. I had to be, I guess, patient, but I also had to adapt to the level of football that I had stepped into in joining Villa,” he said.

“I was very aware that I wasn’t just going to come in and start playing straight away. I had to improve myself and better myself first before I was going to be granted the opportunity, and I loved it.”

Gauci also loved the experience of being in Villa’s squad for the club’s 1-0 UEFA Champions League home win over German giants Bayern Munich earlier this month, despite not playing.

“It was an amazing atmosphere. I couldn’t really stop smiling, to be honest,” he said.

“It was probably the biggest `pinch me’ moment that I’ve had since I’ve arrived.

“To see that quality of football up close and personal, as well as the atmosphere and everything that follows those Champions League nights, it was amazing.”

Originally published as Joe Gauci working hard to remain ahead of Mat Ryan and Paul Izzo in battle for Socceroos goalkeeper spot