Melbourne Victory star Ryan Teague intent on sealing FIFA World Cup qualification with Socceroos
World Cup qualification would help ease Melbourne Victory star Ryan Teague's pain of losing another A-League grand final.
Victory has tasted defeat in back-to-back A-League deciders, with Saturday night's 1-0 loss to Melbourne City at AAMI Park coming a year after losing last season's grand final 3-1 to the Central Coast Mariners in Gosford.
Throw in Victory's 1-0 loss Macarthur FC in last year's Australia Cup final, and that's three deciders on the trot in which Teague has been on the wrong end of the result.
The first training session of our Perth camp is in the books ✅
Hard work continues ahead of Thursday’s big Subway #Socceroos match ðŸ'°
🇦🇰 v 🇯🇵 - 5.6.25, 9pm AEST (7pm local)
🎟�: https://t.co/NyrcVmA5zu
ðŸ'±ðŸ'»ðŸ'°: Live on 10, 10 Play, Paramount+
ðŸ'»: ABC Radio via the ABC Listen… pic.twitter.com/vtxcVpBl2h
— Subway Socceroos (@Socceroos) June 3, 2025
'It's disappointing to lose a grand final … that's three,' Teague said on Wednesday ahead of Australia's FIFA World Cup qualifier against Japan at Perth's Optus Stadium.
'It was unfortunate because probably a club like Victory is expected to win grand finals and trophies, but there are things to improve on and we can look forward to that going into next (season) … but I'm here in (Perth) now. I've got to put it past me. My sole focus now is the game against Japan.
'It's more about seeing what I can do here, how I can help the team the best I can to get the win against Japan. I'm super happy to be selected again.'
Teague is one of six weekend grand final players – three from Victory and three from City – in the Socceroos squad, the others being his club teammates Daniel Arzani and Kasey Bos, and City's Aziz Behich, Kai Trewin and Marco Tilio.
'They're all great guys,' Teague said of the City trio.
'There was a bit of banter, but we've moved on. We're here supporting the same team now, and playing for the same team.'
Teague impressed in his Socceroos' debut in a 2-0 away win over China in March and was hopeful of a second cap on Thursday night when Australia could seal a spot at next year's World Cup with a win, or even a draw, depending on the result of Friday morning's qualifier between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in Riffa.
'Of course it's a big game but I don't try to overthink it,' the 23-year-old midfielder said.
'Japan's a very good squad, but it's about focusing on ourselves and what we can do to break them down and beat them.'
Having already sealed a World Cup berth by topping Group C in the third round of AFC qualifiers, Japan has sent an inexperienced squad to Perth, leaving a host of stars at home.
'Any team Japan puts out is going to be very good and very respectable,' Teague said.
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