Mat Ryan's Socceroos days are not over, coach Tony Popovic insists, despite the decorated captain being left out of his first squad since the World Cup.
asserted
captain → insist → Cup
Ryan is the most eyebrow-raising omission from Popovic's squad, which includes seven uncapped players, for games against Brazil in Brisbane on September 25 and Townsville on September 28.
asserted
which → raise → September
The 34-year-old lost his starting spot to young goalkeeper Patrick Beach at the World Cup, then was bizarrely substituted on for the round-of-32 penalty shootout against Egypt.
asserted
old → lose → Egypt
The Socceroos skipper, capped 105 times, said after that loss he was only told he might replace Beach as extra time kicked off, though Popovic has since insisted Ryan knew that was a possibility pre-match.
uncertain
that → cap → Beach
Levante goalkeeper Ryan has been omitted despite a strong start to the La Liga season.
asserted
Ryan → omit → season
"We know what Maty Ryan is to Australian football," Popovic said.
"
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Popovic → know → football
A player that has a distinguished career, continues to have one, over 100 caps.
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that → have → one
"But we'd like to have a look at another keeper."
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we → like → keeper
Pressed on how Ryan, who the Socceroos boss also dropped in his first games in charge in 2024, had taken the omission, Popovic said: "He's good.
"
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He → press → omission
He's the ultimate professional that he is, and that's why he's had such a distinguished career.
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he → have → career
He's still available for us, and he's certainly not out of the picture moving forward."
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he → move → picture
Uncapped St Mirren goalkeeper Jacob Chapman replaces Ryan, joining Beach and Paul Izzo in the squad.
Untried left-back Kasey Bos, younger brother of injured star Jordan Bos, has been called up along with fellow untested defender Dylan Leonard, 19.
asserted
Bos → replace → Leonard
Former A-League sensations Marcus Younis (Brondby IF) and Eli Adams (Gamba Osaka) earn maiden call-ups alongside Kealey Adamson (QPR), Chapman and Yaya Dukuly (NK Celje) after impressive stints overseas.
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Younis → earn → stints
"They've been rewarded for the hard work they've put in to get an opportunity overseas," Popovic said.
"
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Popovic → reward → opportunity
They've had to go through the struggles when you go outside of your comfort zone.
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you → have → zone
You go through the ups and downs; not playing, playing, injuries, and that helps you grow.
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you → go → ups
"And these players get mentally tougher; they know how to handle the difficult situations in games, and I believe they all deserve an opportunity."
Sixteen players from the 26-man World Cup squad return.
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players → get → squad
Cristian Volpato (hamstring) is sidelined with injury.
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Volpato → sideline → injury
The Sassuolo attacker was last week fined $722 for driving with cocaine in his system in July.
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attacker → fin → July
Volpato has maintained his innocence and will challenge the charges in court.
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Volpato → maintain → court
Riley McGree and Patrick Yazbek return after missing the World Cup through injury while Alex Robertson has been recalled.
asserted
Robertson → return → injury
Cameron Devlin, Nishan Velupillay, Mathew Leckie, Ajdin Hrustic, Kai Trewin and Awer Mabil have been omitted.
asserted
Devlin → omit → ?
The Socceroos could have played up to four games this window but have settled for two, which Popovic said allowed players to get back to their clubs.
uncertain
players → play → clubs
"We feel that with the games in November, we'll be ready for the Asian Cup," he said.
asserted
he → feel → Cup
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