A Socceroos star has thrown some severe shade at a Melbourne landmark that has been re-named after a World Cup star and teammate.
St Kilda Beach has been temporarily renamed Patrick Beach for the remainder of Australia’s World Cup campaign in honour of Socceroos goalkeeper Patrick Beach.
Beach was a surprise selection for Australia’s opening World Cup match against Turkey and has retained the No.1 goalkeeper spot throughout the tournament.
The tribute follows Australia’s qualification for the Round of 32 after a scoreless draw with Paraguay on Friday sealed second place in group D.
But one Australian player was not impressed.
A reporter told Socceroos star Aziz Behich that Beach had received the honour, and his response was classic.
Australian Socceroos goalkeeper Patrick Beach has had St Kilda Beach re-named in his honour for the duration of the World Cup
Socceroos teammate Aziz Behich joked that he would not want that honour if it was offered to him
‘I wouldn’t want that,’ he laughed.
‘Hopefully they clean it up for his sake.’
Beach himself could see the funny side of the tribute and said he was honoured to have received the accolade back at home.
‘It’s great to see the country is getting around it, we definitely feel the love and support here from back home,’ Beach said from Oakland.
‘All of us players and staff we see the support from the nation, we see the video of Fed Squad, the crowds in Sydney and Brisbane and all over.’
‘It is very much appreciated, and I think it’s pretty funny as well,’ he said.
City of Port Phillip Mayor Alex Makin said: ‘What’s better than one iconic beach? Two – especially when one is named after a World Cup player. With the Socceroos progressing to the next round, this is a great way for our community to show its support.’
‘Renaming St Kilda Beach is a uniquely local way to celebrate the team and embrace the global energy right here in Port Phillip.’
The City of Port Phillip has also announced plans to light up its town hall in green and gold and is working on a mural celebrating the 22-year-old goalkeeper.
A shock selection ahead of Maty Ryan for Australia’s first game against Turkey, 22-year-old Beach starred then and has held his spot since.
‘I came in here not expecting anything,’ he said.
‘I came in here first and foremost just to give it my best, work my hardest, and improve every day, and that’s still my mindset now, is to go out there and become better than I was yesterday.
‘But very grateful for the opportunities that have been given to me by the staff and the boss.
‘The social stuff that comes with it – I guess I just blocked that all out. It doesn’t really bother me. I’ve achieved a dream so far by being here at a World Cup, like everyone else in this team and that’s what excites me.’
The young goalkeeper hasn’t put a foot wrong and coach Tony Popovic resisted turning to Ryan’s experience – which Socceroos goalkeeping great Mark Schwarzer had called for – and stuck with him against Paraguay.
Beach kept a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw that sealed progression to the round of 32.
‘That’s the only opinion that really matters to me is the staff – they’re the ones that pick the players that they think will do the job,’ Beach said.
‘I’m really grateful that … they have that belief in me to go out there and do a job for the team and for the country.
‘We all put our best foot forward, and we have respect for each other and whoever gets the nod gets the nod.
‘But to be able to get the nod from the boss and the staff to play the game is always an amazing feeling.’
