The Patrick Beach experience was fun, but it is time to return to the norm and start Mat Ryan in goal for the Socceroos’ final FIFA World Cup group game against Paraguay, according to legendary keeper Mark Schwarzer.
Rookie goalie Beach impressed with a clean sheet in Australia’s tournament opener against Türkiye before conceding twice against co-hosts USA.
“This is really a dilemma for me because Patrick Beach has done really well,” Schwarzer told the ABC Sport Daily podcast.
“Certainly in the first game he was absolutely outstanding and the second game against the US, I thought it was just one of those games where not a lot could’ve been done necessarily.
“Maybe the first goal he could’ve been a little bit more confident in his decision-making.”
Schwarzer said any criticism of Beach’s performance would be picking out “minor details” but at this point of a tournament of this size, that could be the difference.
He said Friday afternoon’s game against Paraguay was the perfect time to inject the experience of captain Ryan.
“We’re talking about a World Cup, we’re talking about international level and experience and so forth, so that’s why I think it’s harsh on Patrick Beach but I would go for the experience,” he said.
“I would put Matty Ryan back in goal; leader, captain, incredible amount of experience and I think he’ll be completely up for the game and ready to perform at the level. And I think the level you need right now is about the cool head, the experience in like a final.
This is as close as Mat Ryan has got to playing time in this World Cup. (Getty Images: Stu Forster)
“It’s a final within the World Cup finals for us.”
In his fourth World Cup, Ryan is yet to add to his 104 Socceroos caps, with Beach playing his third and fourth international games to kick off the tournament.
A draw would book Australia’s place in the knockout stages, although it has no intention of playing it safe in San Francisco, and Schwarzer believes Ryan is the man for the moment.
“You need to try and find any little area where you may be able to get a little bit of a slight advantage and the slight advantage is that Matty Ryan has got the experience,” he said.
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“That’s no fault of Patrick Beach whatsoever. I think he’s been excellent in the tournament. He’s been a revelation; he’s been sensational.”
Another World Cup debutant who lit it up against Türkiye before being controversially benched against the US was Nestory Irankunda.
Schwarzer said he must start on Friday, while recent Italian convert Cristian Volpato should come off the bench again to inject some energy if required.
Twenty-year-old Irankunda only played the second half of the 2-0 loss to the Americans, saying after the game he would have “preferred to start”.
“It was the biggest game. It was the game that I was most looking forward to. I would have loved to play from the start and create some things and score some goals,” he said.
“But obviously the coach decided different. He wanted to approach the game differently, which is fine with me. I play for the team, not for myself.”
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