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Greatest World Cup gamble? Bozza hails national hero Beach
SEN • June 15th, 2026 12:34 pm
Australia’s collective jaw fell to the floor on Sunday afternoon when it was confirmed that Tony Popovic would not have captain and veteran goalkeeper Mat Ryan starting against Turkiye.
There had been no prior debate about who was the nation’s first choice stopper.
There is certain to be now after Patrick Beach became one of the greatest World Cup gambles in recent memory.
Popovic didn’t buy into the shock factor of naming the 22-year-old in place of Ryan.
"I just wanted to play Patrick (Beach). The decision was to play Patrick," he said casually before the opening Group D clash in Vancouver.
Ninety minutes a 2-0 win and eight match winning saves later, Popvic was vindicated and Beach became a national hero.
What greater praise than to be described as a “star in the making” by Australia’s most famous goalkeeper and SEN’s Mark Bosnich.
“Theres a star in the making,” Bozza told SEN1170 Breakfast. “To come in and make that many saves – eight in a game - to come in for the captain when there was no debate about this position beforehand. It’s outstanding.
“Against Switzerland in the friendly he was terrific but no one had any inkling that place was up for grabs. To go out and do it in the place of a captain and perform like that was outstanding.
“Who dares wins, they say, for selections and he (Popovic) was right. They must have seen something that convinced them to go that way.”
Beating Turkiye 2-0 to sit second behind the USA in the group was not a position many would have backed Australia to be in going into the 48-nation tournament.
With the host country next up before a clash with Paraguay on June 26 (AEST) the Socceroos are a very real chance of reaching the Round of 32.
For Bosnich one more point will all but secure this feat.
"I thought they needed one point from the first two games and then they would beat Paraguay, Bosnich said when asked how much his predictions might have changed after the Vancouver victory.
After watching the USA I don’t think Australia could beat them; now after seeing them play Turkiye they can but it’s going to be difficult.
"USA were flying form all angles and they will be looking for a clean sweep.
"The way Australia played, it will be interesting to see if they can come forward a bit. A draw is the best we can hope for. But the Turkiye win, is pretty much going to guarantee that one point from two games gets us into the knockout stages.
"That win was so important."
