Milestone man Ryan thought Socceroos career was over
Socceroos goalkeeper Maty Ryan was sitting on the bench, thinking his international career was finished.
It was November last year, and Ryan had started life under coach Tony Popovic as an unused substitute for three straight games as Joe Gauci took the lead in their World Cup qualifiers.
Ryan couldn't convince Popovic after struggling for game time at former club AS Roma, before a hip injury to Gauci reopened the door.
Now six months on, the 33-year-old nears his 100-cap milestone as Australia look to finally confirm their path to the 2026 tournament with a win over Saudi Arabia on Wednesday (AEST).
He is the third-most capped Socceroo, behind fellow keeper Mark Schwarzer (109) and Tim Cahill (108).
"There were definitely thoughts that I had there that I could well have played my last game for the national team," Ryan said on Monday.
"If you look at perhaps every footballer's career - look at Cristiano Ronaldo and his time at Man United with (Erik) ten Hag there. He wasn't playing there either.
"I don't think life or football discriminates against anyone in that regard.
"No one is ever entitled to playing for a team. You've got to go out there and earn that right.
"'I'm pretty proud of the fact that I've managed to find my way back in."
The Socceroos are within touching distance of an automatic spot for the 2026 finals after a hard-earned 1-0 win over Japan in Perth.
Saudi Arabia will only be able to snatch Australia's automatic spot if they manage a highly improbable win of five goals or more.
Ryan was on the bench last time the Socceroos suffered a defeat of that magnitude, watching a side coached by Holger Osieck in a 6-0 horror friendly defeat to France in 2013.
While Ryan wouldn't be drawn when asked about the now faint memory, he stuck close to the team's week-long 'no complacency' message.
"At the end of the day, action speaks louder than words," Ryan said.
"In life, anything is possible, so you can't take anything for granted
"And by no means is the job finished."
Ryan will notch the 100-game milestone after 13 years with the national team, earning his first call-up for the 2014 World Cup qualifier against the Saudis in 2012.
"I'm always trying to make the next achievement the best one," Ryan said.
"To be in the position we are right now, being a strong one, to go and have it right on our fingertips right now - it gives meaning to us footballers as to why we want to play
"It's the most fulfilling and purposeful thing when you've got that success at your fingertips, and you obviously want to take that final last step to go and achieve it."
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