Tony Popovic started the World Cup by surprising Australian fans with his decision to select Patrick Beach over captain Maty Ryan.
The 22-year-old stopper had only made two appearances for the Socceroos when he was thrust into the spotlight against Turkiye.
Beach looked like a seasoned goalkeeper throughout the tournament, not one that was making his first appearance at a major tournament.
The Melbourne City man instantly repaid his coach’s faith with a couple of big saves in that game against Turkiye.
He could do little in the loss against the USA as they were roundly beaten by a better side.
And when he was called upon against Egypt, Beach wasn’t found wanting as he pulled off a wonder save.
Patrick Beach was taken off for Maty Ryan just before Australia’s penalty shootout heartbreak
Beach had impressed throughout the World Cupafter being thrust into the spotlight against Turkiye
Tony Popovic’s gamble failed to pay off as Maty Ryan was unable to make a save in the penalty shootout against Egypt
A flicked header seemingly had the big goalkeeper all at sea, but he was able to change direction and get a strong hand to push it over the bar and keep his side in the tournament for the time being.
His reward? To be hooked by the man who had put his faith in him at the start of the tournament.
On came the experienced Ryan – who has saved 12 penalties in his career – to be the hero for the Socceroos.
What followed is hard to place solely at the feet of Ryan as Harry Souttar and Lucas Herrington missed their penalties.
But the former Arsenal man was a non-factor in the shootout as he failed to really get near a single spot kick.
Mohamed Salah’s panenka that left Ryan looking a little silly summed up the failure of the gamble by Popovic.
And the Australian coach has come under fire for his decision from pundits and fans alike.
Mark Milligan on SBS said, ‘We have to be honest with the young ones who have come through, it was a massive, massive call to leave Matty Ryan out when he did.
‘Maty Ryan did nothing to warrant that. Coming off the back of a fantastic season.
‘Again, if it weren’t for Beach, this tournament would have looked a lot different from this game.’
Milligan also took aim at Popovic’s squad selections more generally, adding, ‘These are the decisions that you have to make as a coach and the risks that you have to take.
‘Looking back in the tournament, two big decisions against Turkiye that paid off.
‘For me unfortunately the decisions made after that probably didn’t come to life like he would have hoped.’
Tony Popovic’s gamble had paid off at the start of the tournament but fans and pundits have been left frustrated by the decisions made against Egypt
Fans seemingly agreed with Milligan, with one user on X, Steve Ireland writing, ‘Matt Ryan looked like a toddler in a giant goal.
‘Complicated penalty shoot out sending Souttar/Herrington to take pens? What for? Because they wouldn’t [have] been able to research them?
‘So dumb. Worked so hard to make a dumb move in the shootout with keeper and selection.
He also posted, ‘So disappointed. Beach has a massive reach over Ryan. Souttar and Herrington being thrown in there when we have Hrustjic there to kick off the shootout?
‘I don’t get it.’
One fan even went as far as to call for Tony Popovic’s job, ‘That was a Masterclass on a manager losing you the game.
‘Failed to start our best lineup again, took our best attacking players off with 15 to go & then brought on a keeper who hasn’t seen a single second of gameplay. Popovic has to go.’
One does have to wonder how Beach is feeling, he had been fantastic throughout the tournament and it certainly felt like he earned the right to be the shot stopper in the penalty shootout.
Another X user wrote, ‘Feel so sorry for Patrick Beach.
‘He was having the game of his life and this f*****r Popovic takes him off for a guy who saved none of the penalties and dived weird on the Salah one.’
Tony Popovic had plenty of up and coming youngsters at his disposal and he had shown a propensity to use them.
Except for the biggest moment in the tournament when he perhaps ought to have done the most.
