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ABC News
11-06-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
Mat Ryan wanted to freeze time on 100th appearance for Socceroos after penalty save
Moments after leading the Socceroos to the FIFA World Cup with a 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabia, Mat Ryan said he wanted to "freeze time". Little over eight months earlier, he must have wished for the ability to rewind it. Languishing on the bench for AS Roma, behind Mile Svilar, and dropped from the Socceroos squad in favour of Joe Gauci, Ryan's time in the Eternal City must have felt endlessly frustrating. Now he's looking at the eternal glory of being part of another Socceroos World Cup campaign. Ryan excelled for the Socceroos in Jeddah, capping his 100th appearance for the national team with a superb penalty save from Salem Al-Dawsari's late spot kick. Had it gone, Saudi Arabia still would not have had enough time to find the four more goals they needed to overhaul the Aussies into the second direct qualification spot from this phase of Asian World Cup qualifying. But the miraculous save spoke far more about the desire and heart of this Socceroos team, combined with the camaraderie that saw the squad race to embrace their skipper. "It would be nice if I could work out how to freeze time," Ryan said post-match on Paramount+, before elaborating on his penalty save for ABC Sport Daily. "It was almost as if fairytales came true," Ryan told ABC Sport. "Don't get me wrong, I treat every cap as a monumental cap, whether it's my 100th, my 40th, my 43rd, or whatever number it is — I think it's nothing less than what our jersey deserves and our great nation deserves. "In saying that, to knock up the century and in that fashion is something that I'm going to cherish for a very long time. "I do absolutely everything I can to produce for the team, thankfully my preparation and opportunity resulted in a nice positive moment there with the penalty save to contribute to the win. "The cornerstone of this team since I've been involved as a young kid with my first cap all the way through until now is the camaraderie and togetherness, that's the backbone, that's our biggest strength, and I think you've seen that during the celebrations. "They were aware of the occasion for me and what it meant, for them to get around me like that and celebrate just makes it a more special memory. "I couldn't ask for a better bunch of boys and people to go into battle with on the pitch come match day and to work side-by-side with. "I was just happy we could all embrace and share that moment together." Sharing such a pivotal and defining moment looked like a long shot for Ryan six months ago. His move to Roma failed to result in any meaningful game time. He did not play a single minute in Serie A, making just one appearance for the Giallorossi in a 4-1 Coppa Italia victory over Sampdoria. "For sure there were a few doubts there that I had played my last game for the national team," Ryan said. "No one is ever entitled to play and you have to earn every opportunity. "One of the non-negotiables in life for anyone who's wanting to achieve something and be successful is you've got to stay strong and resilient when you're facing some adversity. "Throughout the whole process of it all, the whole journey of this qualification period, I continued to believe in myself, thinking that I am the best man for the job. "As an individual if you're not thinking that, you're failing at the first hurdle. "Obviously football and life, it's full of opinions, but I was confident that I could still offer this team something and it was just a matter of sticking to my guns and continuing to work and letting my football do the talking." A mid-season transfer to RC Lens in France's Ligue 1 sparked a revival in Ryan's fortunes which coupled with being selected to start in the 2-2 away draw with Bahrain late in the year, saw the 33-year-old earn back his spot. "At the end of the day I just tried to produce as often as I could," Ryan said. "I'm pretty proud of the way I worked my way back into the position I'm in because I think a lot of people in my scenario could have spat the dummy and it could have been the end of my international career. "But I'm still hungry, I'm still motivated. Qualification hadn't been a certainty for the Socceroos early in the campaign. The Socceroos struggled in their opening two games in the third round of qualifying under Graham Arnold, losing at home to Bahrain and limping to a draw in tough conditions against Indonesia. Ryan said the group always believed, but new coach Tony Popovic had instilled even more belief in the squad since he came in. "One thing is that we unite … we are all Australian, and the difficulties that we face being an Australian footballer, trying to travel the world and play overseas in Europe, that's something that no other team has," Ryan said. "Covering the amount of distance and hardship with all the travel, that kinda hardens us even more and brings us together even more than other nations. "And part of what makes us Australian is we roll up our sleeves and get on with it and then give it our best crack when it comes to game day and that seems to work best for us." Conceding two goals on his return against Bahrain on limited game time was not ideal, but since then the Socceroos, with Ryan between the sticks, have conceded just twice in six hours of football. Indeed, in the last five matches Ryan has only had to face 15 shots on goal, a testament to his defensive organisation as much as anything. All this culminated with his spectacular penalty save to preserve the Socceroos' 2-1 victory in Jeddah and fly through into the World Cup finals. "It's an exciting time to be a part of this team," Ryan said. "I hadn't beaten Japan before in my career. Direct qualification, I haven't done personally before. "We're already doing something that teams I've been a part of haven't done. "It's nice to have ticked those boxes now and I'm looking forward to continuing ticking many more boxes as we move forward."
News.com.au
09-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Milestone man Mat Ryan ‘proud' to have won back his cherished Socceroos spot
Socceroos skipper Mat Ryan feared that his career with the national team was over after being dropped following last September's appointment of Tony Popovic as Australia's coach. Having amassed 95 caps in a stellar Socceroos journey that started in 2012, Ryan suddenly found himself watching from the bench in Popovic's first three games in charge, with the younger Joe Gauci preferred and seemingly set to dethrone the stalwart custodian permanently. However, after keeping a clean sheet in Australia's 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia in Melbourne in November, Gauci was perhaps surprisingly dropped, with Ryan reinstated for the Socceroos' clash with Bahrain less than a week later in Riffa. And now having been between the posts for Australia's past four games, 33-year-old Ryan is set to become the third Socceroo to reach 100 caps when he lines up on Wednesday morning (AEST) against the Saudis in Jeddah, where his team is almost certain to secure 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification. 'There were definitely thoughts that I had then that I could well have played my last game for the national team,' Ryan said in reflecting on being dropped. 'At the same time … anyone who obtains success in their life, it's a fundamental to be able to stay strong and continue to believe in yourself and back yourself. 'The majority of my process at that stage was that, but there are obviously also certain uncontrollables. I'm not a manager (head coach), and I don't make the selections. 'I do everything I can to influence the manager, to convince him that I'm the best man for the job, but sometimes that's not always good enough, and I've experienced that in my (club) career as well. 'There was a thought here and there that (I might) have (played) my last game, so I'm pretty proud of the fact that I've managed to fight my way back in, but at the same time, I believe as a footballer, no-one is ever entitled to be playing for a team.' Ryan, who is off contract at his French club Lens, was never going 'throw in the towel' after being dropped. 'You've got to go out there and earn that right every single day on the training pitch, and off the training pitch as well, making sure you're doing the right things, and when you get the opportunity to pull on that jersey and get on that pitch, it's the player's responsibility to make the most of that opportunity and not give the manager a reason to not select them moving forward,' he said. 'I never felt like I was entitled to be playing at any moment. so with that approach, it helped me just get my head down and work harder than ever before and try to do everything I could to get back in. 'There could have been quite a few players that maybe would have perhaps spat the dummy, or threw in the towel, and not come back from it, but my love for football and our nation, and being out there and contributing to the team, just fuelled my hunger and motivated me more to do what I could and tap into my skill sets to try to get back out there on the pitch.' Despite being on the verge of playing a fourth World Cup, Ryan is taking nothing for granted when it comes to selection or even Australia qualifying. That's despite the Saudis needing to score at least five goals on Wednesday morning to have any hope of reaching next year's World Cup ahead of the Socceroos. 'By no means is the job finished,' he said. 'It's important that we just stay focused and stay present in what we're doing at the minute. 'When you've got that success at your fingertips, you want to take that final last step to achieve it. 'It's my 100th cap, but … I'm not treating this game any different to how I treated my first one or my fifth one, or my 10th or 50th. 'That's what the jersey deserves. Any time that an individual gets the opportunity to pull that jersey on and represent our great country, it just demands the utmost dedication and sacrifice. 'I'm just approaching it as any other game and just trying to create another lifelong memory through having a good win against a good opposition in Saudi Arabia away from home.'
The Advertiser
28-05-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Gauci eyeing breakthrough for Villa and Socceroos
The baptism of a bleak Yorkshire winter has given Australian goalkeeper Joe Gauci the confidence he can push for more gametime with Premier League side Aston Villa and the Socceroos. Seven-cap international Gauci, who signed for Villa from Adelaide United nearly 18 months ago, is eager to make a case for more chances after being sent on loan to League One side Barnsley this season. The 24-year-old played seven games across an injury-hit spell for the Tykes and described the physicality and "more direct" football of England's lower leagues as a "real eye opener". But Villa's goalkeeping stocks are in a state of flux heading into the transfer window, with veteran back-up Robin Olsen to leave and starting 'keeper Emiliano Martinez linked with an off-season move. Gauci had been viewed as Villa's third-choice goalkeeper prior to his loan move to Barnsley and played in cup matches for the first team. But the South Australian is aware even if Argentinian international Martinez was to leave, Villa would likely bring a more experienced No. 1 in over the top of him. "I'll go back and start pre-season at Villa and put my best foot forward and work hard and continue to develop," Gauci said from the Socceroos camp in Abu Dhabi. "When it comes to my future and next season, I'm an Aston Villa player, and my main focus is to play for Aston Villa, whether that's next season or the years that follow. "There's a lot of speculation in football, so that's out of my control. I guess there's no point, no point worrying about ifs and buts, he (Martinez) is contracted. "If he was to leave they'll probably look at bringing in other goalkeepers and Robin Olsen's time at the club is coming to an end. There's opportunities … and it's up to me to take them." Gauci has been undaunted by challenging more-established teammates for spots. He was a surprise choice for Popovic's first three games at the helm, briefly ousting captain Maty Ryan before his hip injury prevented him from staking a claim for March's qualifying wins over Indonesia and China. It remains to be seen whether Popovic will stick with Lens No.1 Ryan for the June 5 clash with Japan and the June 11 trip to Jeddah to face Saudi Arabia where two wins would guarantee the Socceroos a World Cup berth next year. "Maty has been a fantastic mentor and role model, and younger me would be going crazy to say that he is able to compete for the No.1 spot for Australia," Gauci said. "Everyone wants to put themselves in the best position to be up for selection when we qualify for the World Cup." The baptism of a bleak Yorkshire winter has given Australian goalkeeper Joe Gauci the confidence he can push for more gametime with Premier League side Aston Villa and the Socceroos. Seven-cap international Gauci, who signed for Villa from Adelaide United nearly 18 months ago, is eager to make a case for more chances after being sent on loan to League One side Barnsley this season. The 24-year-old played seven games across an injury-hit spell for the Tykes and described the physicality and "more direct" football of England's lower leagues as a "real eye opener". But Villa's goalkeeping stocks are in a state of flux heading into the transfer window, with veteran back-up Robin Olsen to leave and starting 'keeper Emiliano Martinez linked with an off-season move. Gauci had been viewed as Villa's third-choice goalkeeper prior to his loan move to Barnsley and played in cup matches for the first team. But the South Australian is aware even if Argentinian international Martinez was to leave, Villa would likely bring a more experienced No. 1 in over the top of him. "I'll go back and start pre-season at Villa and put my best foot forward and work hard and continue to develop," Gauci said from the Socceroos camp in Abu Dhabi. "When it comes to my future and next season, I'm an Aston Villa player, and my main focus is to play for Aston Villa, whether that's next season or the years that follow. "There's a lot of speculation in football, so that's out of my control. I guess there's no point, no point worrying about ifs and buts, he (Martinez) is contracted. "If he was to leave they'll probably look at bringing in other goalkeepers and Robin Olsen's time at the club is coming to an end. There's opportunities … and it's up to me to take them." Gauci has been undaunted by challenging more-established teammates for spots. He was a surprise choice for Popovic's first three games at the helm, briefly ousting captain Maty Ryan before his hip injury prevented him from staking a claim for March's qualifying wins over Indonesia and China. It remains to be seen whether Popovic will stick with Lens No.1 Ryan for the June 5 clash with Japan and the June 11 trip to Jeddah to face Saudi Arabia where two wins would guarantee the Socceroos a World Cup berth next year. "Maty has been a fantastic mentor and role model, and younger me would be going crazy to say that he is able to compete for the No.1 spot for Australia," Gauci said. "Everyone wants to put themselves in the best position to be up for selection when we qualify for the World Cup." The baptism of a bleak Yorkshire winter has given Australian goalkeeper Joe Gauci the confidence he can push for more gametime with Premier League side Aston Villa and the Socceroos. Seven-cap international Gauci, who signed for Villa from Adelaide United nearly 18 months ago, is eager to make a case for more chances after being sent on loan to League One side Barnsley this season. The 24-year-old played seven games across an injury-hit spell for the Tykes and described the physicality and "more direct" football of England's lower leagues as a "real eye opener". But Villa's goalkeeping stocks are in a state of flux heading into the transfer window, with veteran back-up Robin Olsen to leave and starting 'keeper Emiliano Martinez linked with an off-season move. Gauci had been viewed as Villa's third-choice goalkeeper prior to his loan move to Barnsley and played in cup matches for the first team. But the South Australian is aware even if Argentinian international Martinez was to leave, Villa would likely bring a more experienced No. 1 in over the top of him. "I'll go back and start pre-season at Villa and put my best foot forward and work hard and continue to develop," Gauci said from the Socceroos camp in Abu Dhabi. "When it comes to my future and next season, I'm an Aston Villa player, and my main focus is to play for Aston Villa, whether that's next season or the years that follow. "There's a lot of speculation in football, so that's out of my control. I guess there's no point, no point worrying about ifs and buts, he (Martinez) is contracted. "If he was to leave they'll probably look at bringing in other goalkeepers and Robin Olsen's time at the club is coming to an end. There's opportunities … and it's up to me to take them." Gauci has been undaunted by challenging more-established teammates for spots. He was a surprise choice for Popovic's first three games at the helm, briefly ousting captain Maty Ryan before his hip injury prevented him from staking a claim for March's qualifying wins over Indonesia and China. It remains to be seen whether Popovic will stick with Lens No.1 Ryan for the June 5 clash with Japan and the June 11 trip to Jeddah to face Saudi Arabia where two wins would guarantee the Socceroos a World Cup berth next year. "Maty has been a fantastic mentor and role model, and younger me would be going crazy to say that he is able to compete for the No.1 spot for Australia," Gauci said. "Everyone wants to put themselves in the best position to be up for selection when we qualify for the World Cup."
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Socceroos goalkeeper injured
Another Socceroos goalkeeper has suffered a hip injury, with Joe Gauci forced off in his club team Barnsley's 1-0 weekend win over Rotherham United. Just as Gauci's chief rival for the Socceroos' custodian role, Mat Ryan, returned from his own hip problem to play for his French top-flight team Lens, Gauci was replaced in the 76th minute of Barnsley's English League One win at New York Stadium. Gauci joined the English third-tier club last month on loan from English Premier League outfit Aston Villa. The 24-year-old gloveman now faces a nervous wait to discover if the injury will rule him out of selection in Australia's squad for next month's FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Indonesia and China. 76'. Joe Gauci looks to have picked up an injury, meaning he's replaced by Jackson Smith who makes his Reds competitive debut 🔄🔴 0-1 🅱️ — Barnsley FC (@BarnsleyFC) February 22, 2025 However, it was better news for Socceroos skipper Ryan – despite Lens' 3-1 loss to Nantes – who played his first match in three weeks. Ryan, who joined Lens last month from Italian club Roma, missed two matches after playing two games for his new club. But another potential injury concern for the Socceroos is defender Hayden Matthews, who was limping in the closing stages of his English Championship club Portsmouth's 2-1 weekend win over Queens Park Rangers. Portsmouth manager John Mousinho said: 'I don't know about Hayden because he took a heavy challenge.' Meanwhile, another Socceroos defender, Kye Rowles, made his US Major League Soccer debut for DC United in a 2-2 draw with Toronto. Another member of Australia's backline, Jason Geria, debuted for Japanese club Albirex Niigata, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 2-0 J1 League loss to Shimizu S-Pulse,
BBC News
30-01-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Barnsley sign Villa goalkeeper Gauci on loan
Barnsley have signed goalkeeper Joe Gauci on loan from Aston Villa for the rest of the international Gauci, 24, joined Villa 12 months ago from A-League side Adelaide played in both of Villa's Carabao Cup ties before Christmas but will now spend the next few months at Oakwell."This is a brilliant opportunity for myself to come and get some experience in English football and as well be here to help the club gain promotion and get back in the Championship," Gauci told the club's website, are ninth in League One, two points outside the play-offs with 18 games to go.
