Australia head coach Tony Popovic has named a revamped squad for the upcoming fixtures against Brazil in Queensland, making the bold decision to leave out captain Maty Ryan. Ryan, who boasts 105 caps for his country, is the most high-profile omission in Popovic’s selection for the matches set to take place in Brisbane on September 25 and Townsville on September 28. Despite leaving out the experienced 34-year-old goalkeeper, Popovic insists that Ryan’s international career with the Socceroos isn’t done.
The decision follows a turbulent World Cup campaign where Ryan lost his starting spot to young goalkeeper Patrick Beach. In a bizarre turn of events during Australia’s round-of-32 loss to Egypt, Ryan was substituted on specifically for the penalty shootout. Following that elimination, the national team skipper stated he was only informed he might replace Beach as extra time kicked off, although Popovic later maintained that Ryan knew that was a possibility prematch. The exclusion comes despite Ryan enjoying a strong start to the La Liga season in goal for Spanish side Levante.
Popovic’s squad for Australia’s first fixtures since the World Cup signals a clear tactical and generational shift, featuring seven uncapped players alongside several returning faces. Riley McGree and Patrick Yazbek have been welcomed back into the national team fold after missing the World Cup through injury, while Alex Robertson has earned a recall to the side. However, the squad changes have resulted in a raft of notable omissions alongside Ryan, with Cameron Devlin, Nishan Velupillay, Mathew Leckie, Ajdin Hrustic, Kai Trewin, and Awer Mabil all left out of the two-game series against the South American giants.
Injury and off-field issues have also impacted Popovic’s team selection. Sassuolo attacker Cristian Volpato has been ruled out of the series due to a hamstring injury. Volpato was fined $722 last week after testing positive for cocaine in his system while driving in July. The attacker has maintained his innocence regarding the charges and confirmed he will challenge them in court.
With two high-stakes tests against Brazil rapidly approaching, Popovic is using this series in Queensland to assess depth and evaluate new options. The games in Brisbane and Townsville offer a fresh start for the Socceroos, even as questions linger over how long the veteran skipper will remain on the sidelines. Popovic’s willingness to make difficult choices underscores his intention to reshape the squad for the upcoming international cycle.
