For a moment it seemed like the unbreakable Aussie team spirit might be falling apart early in the Socceroos’ game against Turkey.
The confusion was widespread as soon as the teamsheet dropped.
Mathew Ryan, Australia’s captain, veteran of 104 games as the national team’s goalkeeper, had been axed from the starting XI.
Social media lit up like wildfire. Was he injured? Unwell? Done something to fall out of favour with Tony Popovic?
The Socceroos coach gave nothing away in a pre-match interview, simply stating he wanted to pick 22-year-old Patrick Beach.
Beach, an A-League player, who had only previously appeared for the Socceroos in two friendlies, was stepping in for the skipper.
As the minutes counted down to kick-off, Ryan emerged from the tunnel at Vancouver Stadium still dressed in a suit and tie. He’d soon be dressed and on the bench – but how would he react? What would it do for Australia’s team unity?
Then came what initially appeared to be a frightening moment early in the first half.
Australia goalkeeper Mathew Ryan looks on before the World Cup Group D soccer match between Australia and Turkey in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
As Nestory Irankunda scored, ran to the corner post to deliver his best Tim Cahill impression and then was mobbed by his teammates, Ryan stood stationary next to the bench.
He appeared to be the only interchange player who didn’t storm down the sideline to celebrate one of Australia’s great World Cup goals.
The mystery continued at halftime when all of the reserve players stayed on the pitch, kicking balls around to stay warm, except for Ryan.
Had he spat the dummy? Would he be back with his teammates for the second half?
Mathew Ryan was spotted standing near the bench as his teammates celebrated Nestory Irankunda’s opening goal.
Nestory Irankunda (obscured) is swamped by his Socceroos teammates. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
But that’s not our Maty Ryan.
Any speculation about how he was handling his demotion disappeared midway through the second half when Connor Metcalfe banged in Australia’s second goal.
Ryan was right in the thick of the pile of players that almost squashed Metcalfe – and his joy was clear to see when he later danced around the pitch as the Socceroos celebrated the victory with a lap of the stadium.
There were more heartwarming scenes when he was handed his nine-month-old son, Preston. This was clearly a man at peace with his lot in life – and well should he be.
Beach’s flawless performance – he made a staggering eight saves, the most by an Aussie goalkeeper in a World Cup match – could well mean Ryan’s days in the national team are over.
Popovic emphatically declared the decision would have been “right” even if Australia had lost.
The coach would not go into detail about when and how he’d delivered the news to the 34-year-old – or how he reacted in the moment.
But he insisted Ryan, who has captained his country on 46 occasions, was a complete professional on matchday.
Patrick Beach celebrates a job well done. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Former Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was stunned by the call to drop Ryan, who was in goals for all of Australia’s games at the 2014, 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
“Your goalkeeper, you have to fill him with so much confidence,’ Schmeichel told Fox Sports.
“You have to make him believe he is the best, most important guy on the team.
“To go and make that decision, that’s a huge decision. I feel for Maty Ryan because he’s the captain of the team so he still has to do a job.
“But inside he’s not just angry, he’s hurting. It’s a pride thing.
“You’re so lonely as a goalkeeper already and now you’ve been taken out on the bench and to have to sit there.
“You have to put that to one side — that hurt, ego, pride to one side. Now you have to find a different way to help your team.
“You’ve been preparing the whole season, ‘How do I captain my side in the World Cup?’. Now he has to captain in a different way.
“It would be really interesting to know when that decision was made. If he’s just found out today or yesterday, that’s a big adjustment.”
Beach revealed he knew a few days beforehand that he would be starting in goals against Turkey.
“I found out a few days ago and my immediate reaction was real excitement and joy and understanding of what my role was to be played,” he told SBS
“Having the backing from the boss and the coaching staff and the boys as well always instils me with a lot of confidence to go out there and play my game.”
We only read two words from Ryan after the game. “Absolute gold,” he tweeted, in reply to a video of fans celebrating in Melbourne’s Federation Square.
Jackson Irvine and Mat Ryan were the surprise exclusions. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
The selection call drew comparisons to Mark Schwarzer being overlooked for Zeljko Kalac at the 2006 World Cup for a 2-2 draw against Croatia.
Schwarzer, who was recalled for Australia’s round of 16 game against Italy, said he was “very, very surprised with that decision” to overlook Ryan.
“I didn’t see that coming,” the legendary goalie told the ABC Sport Daily podcast.
“The reason being Mat Ryan, captain of the national team, fourth World Cup, never let Australia down at a World Cup. He’s been exceptional this year at Levante in La Liga.
“For me, it was a dead certain (Ryan would start). That’s not being disrespectful to anyone else, it’s just the way Mat Ryan has performed. I just thought that’s a certainty.
I feel for Maty because I know exactly how he’s feeling. That is a really tough one to take. Patrick Beach, I take my hat off to him because the guy was outstanding.”
Central defender Harry Souttar wore the captain’s armband for Australia in Ryan’s absence, as the only player in the starting XI to have played a World Cup game before.
Selecting Beach and Paul Okon Jr over Ryan and Jackson Irvine is the surest sign yet that Popovic has confidence in the next generation of Socceroos, which had an average age of 24 against Turkey.
“One thing about Tony Popovic is he believes in the fearlessness of young players,” former Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou said.
“The fact he puts so much faith in young players, he backs that up.”
