Socceroos captain Maty Ryan has delivered a characteristically Australian response to critics writing off his side ahead of the FIFA World Cup, declaring: ‘Ain’t no c-word scoring against me.’
The veteran goalkeeper is preparing for his fourth World Cup campaign and enters the tournament in some of the best form of his career after helping Spanish club Levante avoid relegation from La Liga.
But while much of the focus has been on Australia’s underdog status heading into the tournament, Ryan has made it clear he is not interested in outside opinions.
Speaking on the Unscripted podcast with former NRL star Josh Mansour, the 34-year-old laughed off suggestions the Socceroos are little chance of causing an upset against higher-ranked opposition.
‘I’ve heard there’s been some Americans f***ing saying comments like that,’ Ryan said with a grin.
‘To be honest I just have a chuckle to myself because actions speak louder than words, everything else is irrelevant.
Socceroos captain Maty Ryan has fired back at critics ahead of Australia’s World Cup campaign
Ryan revealed the brutally simple mindset he carries into every match as Australia’s last line of defence
‘At the final whistle whatever the result is, that’s going to be the biggest blow for whoever is on the wrong end of that result.’
Australia’s group-stage clash against the United States has already attracted attention across both countries, with some American commentators questioning whether Tony Popovic’s side can trouble the host nation.
Former USA star Landon Donovan took the most pointed shot at the Socceroos – and ‘smug’ coach Tony Popovic.
‘Thanks for coming Aussies and your smug coach, you can get back on the QANTAS airplane and head back home pal,’ he said.
Mansour played that footage and asked Ryan whether that was fuel for the Aussies and if they had the belief they could take out the host nation on home soil.
‘F***ing oath there is. Ain’t no c-word scoring against me,’ Ryan fired back.
The Socceroos skipper revealed that is a mantra he carries into every match, regardless of the opponent standing across from him.
‘Obviously we work all week on the details, but when I’m going out on the football pitch the last thing I say is ‘ain’t no c-word scoring against me today’ – that’s the only thought I go out there with,’ he said.
Former USA star and current commentator Landon Donovan stoked the flames for an epic showdown between the host nation and Australia
Ryan says actions speak louder than words when responding to comments from overseas critics and pundits
The typically-Aussie response offered a rare glimpse into the mentality that has helped Ryan become one of the most accomplished players in Australian football history.
With 104 international appearances, Ryan is already one of the most-capped Socceroos of all time and is closing in on Mark Schwarzer’s long-standing national record.
His career has taken him from the Central Coast Mariners to some of Europe’s biggest leagues, including spells in Belgium, England, Spain, Italy, France and Denmark.
Along the way he has faced Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Cristiano Ronaldo and many of football’s biggest stars.
That experience, Ryan says, has taught him that even the world’s elite players are not untouchable.
‘[The big stars] struggle just as much as you and I do, they’re human and they’re not these godlike characters,’ he said.
‘They all have difficulties and you just have make sure you’re on your game and your mentality is where it needs to be in order to allow your physicality, your tactics, your technique to have its effect on the game.’
Ryan also believes Australia’s unique footballing culture gives the Socceroos an edge that many opponents struggle to match.
‘Teammates in Europe, they complain when they have to fly two hours to play a game, while we’re flying 24-hours plus for Socceroos matches – it really builds our backbone,’ he said.
‘That grit and the willingness to work for one another and be united, they’re characteristics that we try and call upon, whoever we’re coming up against.
‘When the football world thinks of Australia, they know they’re going to be coming up against a team that’s not going to stop fighting.’
