Why Beach must be benched: Socceroos legend explains huge goalie call ahead of Paraguay World Cup clash
One of Australia’s greatest ever goalkeepers, if not the greatest, has called for the Socceroos to make a major change for their final Group D match the FIFA World Cup.
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Speaking to ABC Sport Mark Schwarzer said game one hero Patrick Beach should be dropped and replaced by Socceroos captain Maty Ryan as Australian goalkeeper against Paraguay.
With second place in Group D on the line and automatic qualification for the Round of 32, Schwarzer wants his former national teammate Tony Popovic to go for big game experience.
While Beach clearly has a bright future ahead of him, but the 22-year-old from Melbourne City has featured just four times for the Socceroos and plays his club football in the A-League, whereas Ryan is a hardened 104-match veteran who has played in the pressure cooker of the world’s biggest leagues including the English Premier League and Spanish La Liga.
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“I would go for the experience, I would put Maty Ryan back in goal,” Schwarzer said, describing Ryan’s leadership qualities as invaluable in such a critical match.
“It’s a dilemma for me because Patrick Beach has done really well, but we’re talking about a World Cup.”
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Schwarzer, who Ryan replaced as Australian goalkeeper following Schwarzer’s international retirement in 2013, said he had no concerns given that Ryan is yet to play a minute in the 2026 World Cup.
“(Ryan) has an incredible amount of experience and I think he’ll be completely up for the game and ready to perform at the level you need right now — it’s like a final within the World Cup finals for us,” he said.
“It’s the moment, it’s the occasion, it’s our biggest game to date, it’s about getting the result you need to progress.
“You need to be able to find any little area where you may be able to get a slight advantage — and the slight advantage is that Maty Ryan has the experience.
“That’s no fault of Patrick Beach whatsoever, I think he’s been excellent, he’s been a revelation, but for me (Maty Ryan) would be in my lineup.”
The Socceroos face Paraguay in their final Group D match on Friday, Australian time. Kick off at midday (AEST).
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