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ABC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- ABC News
Mat Ryan wanted to freeze time on 100th appearance for Socceroos after penalty save
Moments after leading the Socceroos to the FIFA World Cup with a 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabia, Mat Ryan said he wanted to "freeze time". Little over eight months earlier, he must have wished for the ability to rewind it. Languishing on the bench for AS Roma, behind Mile Svilar, and dropped from the Socceroos squad in favour of Joe Gauci, Ryan's time in the Eternal City must have felt endlessly frustrating. Now he's looking at the eternal glory of being part of another Socceroos World Cup campaign. Ryan excelled for the Socceroos in Jeddah, capping his 100th appearance for the national team with a superb penalty save from Salem Al-Dawsari's late spot kick. Had it gone, Saudi Arabia still would not have had enough time to find the four more goals they needed to overhaul the Aussies into the second direct qualification spot from this phase of Asian World Cup qualifying. But the miraculous save spoke far more about the desire and heart of this Socceroos team, combined with the camaraderie that saw the squad race to embrace their skipper. "It would be nice if I could work out how to freeze time," Ryan said post-match on Paramount+, before elaborating on his penalty save for ABC Sport Daily. "It was almost as if fairytales came true," Ryan told ABC Sport. "Don't get me wrong, I treat every cap as a monumental cap, whether it's my 100th, my 40th, my 43rd, or whatever number it is — I think it's nothing less than what our jersey deserves and our great nation deserves. "In saying that, to knock up the century and in that fashion is something that I'm going to cherish for a very long time. "I do absolutely everything I can to produce for the team, thankfully my preparation and opportunity resulted in a nice positive moment there with the penalty save to contribute to the win. "The cornerstone of this team since I've been involved as a young kid with my first cap all the way through until now is the camaraderie and togetherness, that's the backbone, that's our biggest strength, and I think you've seen that during the celebrations. "They were aware of the occasion for me and what it meant, for them to get around me like that and celebrate just makes it a more special memory. "I couldn't ask for a better bunch of boys and people to go into battle with on the pitch come match day and to work side-by-side with. "I was just happy we could all embrace and share that moment together." Sharing such a pivotal and defining moment looked like a long shot for Ryan six months ago. His move to Roma failed to result in any meaningful game time. He did not play a single minute in Serie A, making just one appearance for the Giallorossi in a 4-1 Coppa Italia victory over Sampdoria. "For sure there were a few doubts there that I had played my last game for the national team," Ryan said. "No one is ever entitled to play and you have to earn every opportunity. "One of the non-negotiables in life for anyone who's wanting to achieve something and be successful is you've got to stay strong and resilient when you're facing some adversity. "Throughout the whole process of it all, the whole journey of this qualification period, I continued to believe in myself, thinking that I am the best man for the job. "As an individual if you're not thinking that, you're failing at the first hurdle. "Obviously football and life, it's full of opinions, but I was confident that I could still offer this team something and it was just a matter of sticking to my guns and continuing to work and letting my football do the talking." A mid-season transfer to RC Lens in France's Ligue 1 sparked a revival in Ryan's fortunes which coupled with being selected to start in the 2-2 away draw with Bahrain late in the year, saw the 33-year-old earn back his spot. "At the end of the day I just tried to produce as often as I could," Ryan said. "I'm pretty proud of the way I worked my way back into the position I'm in because I think a lot of people in my scenario could have spat the dummy and it could have been the end of my international career. "But I'm still hungry, I'm still motivated. Qualification hadn't been a certainty for the Socceroos early in the campaign. The Socceroos struggled in their opening two games in the third round of qualifying under Graham Arnold, losing at home to Bahrain and limping to a draw in tough conditions against Indonesia. Ryan said the group always believed, but new coach Tony Popovic had instilled even more belief in the squad since he came in. "One thing is that we unite … we are all Australian, and the difficulties that we face being an Australian footballer, trying to travel the world and play overseas in Europe, that's something that no other team has," Ryan said. "Covering the amount of distance and hardship with all the travel, that kinda hardens us even more and brings us together even more than other nations. "And part of what makes us Australian is we roll up our sleeves and get on with it and then give it our best crack when it comes to game day and that seems to work best for us." Conceding two goals on his return against Bahrain on limited game time was not ideal, but since then the Socceroos, with Ryan between the sticks, have conceded just twice in six hours of football. Indeed, in the last five matches Ryan has only had to face 15 shots on goal, a testament to his defensive organisation as much as anything. All this culminated with his spectacular penalty save to preserve the Socceroos' 2-1 victory in Jeddah and fly through into the World Cup finals. "It's an exciting time to be a part of this team," Ryan said. "I hadn't beaten Japan before in my career. Direct qualification, I haven't done personally before. "We're already doing something that teams I've been a part of haven't done. "It's nice to have ticked those boxes now and I'm looking forward to continuing ticking many more boxes as we move forward."
The Sun
18-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
I became Tottenham legend after winning them their last European trophy – then did everything wrong after that
TONY PARKS' penalty save against Anderlecht is an iconic Tottenham image. Plunging to his right and haring off around White Hart Lane with both arms raised to be engulfed by Spurs team-mates. 3 Yet while he will always be associated with the 1984 Uefa Cup final shootout, he admits it was too much to soon. Parks was just 21 when he denied Arnor Gudjohnsen - father of future Chelsea, Bolton and Spurs attacker Eidur - to win Tottenham's third European trophy for Keith Burkinshaw's side. Their fourth can arrive 41 years on if Ange Postecoglou 's side manage to beat Manchester United in Bilbao on Wednesday. Yet even if it goes to penalties again and Gugliemo Vicario repeats Parks' heroics, it is hard to see it having the same impact. Parks - only in the team with Ray Clemence deemed unfit - recalled: "I'd saved the first penalty, from Morten Olsen, and gone left on them all. "Danny Thomas had the chance to win it for us but he missed. He was gutted but the whole crowd started singing his name. I'd never seen that before. "When Gudjohnsen stepped up, I thought I had to do something different and dive the other way. "He didn't hit it very well, I made the save, I got up and just started running. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK "I knew my mum and dad were in the crowd and I ran towards where they were. If the gates had been open, I'd have been at Seven Sisters 20 minutes later." It should have been lift-off for Parks' career. Instead, it was a turning point for all the wrong reasons. How Europa League final will be decided - four key Man Utd vs Tottenham tactical battles Parks told The Spurs Show podcast: "The drama of it was amazing. I remember watching it back. "But, for me, it was too much, too early. I thought that was it, that it was going to happen every year. "That's kind of how you think when you're a kid, isn't it? But I played the rebel a little bit. "I did everything wrong that I could do wrong." Not that he could be blamed initially. Parks added: "Every pub I walked in for about six weeks was free beer. "Honestly, I'd walk into any place and whatever I wanted was free. "I remember going out for a meal. Rod Stewart was in the restaurant and apparently thought I'd only saved one penalty; his friends said it was two. 3 "So the waiter came over and said, 'I'd like to know how many penalties you saved'. "I said, 'Two' and he said, 'Would you like a bottle of wine from Rod Stewart?' "It was all amazing. But if you're weak in the head, like I was, they tip you over the edge. "You have to be stronger than that to be a professional athlete. "Instead, I got arrested for drinking and driving, came back for pre-season with an injury. "Ray made sure that when he came back, he was 100 per cent fit and focused, ready to go — while I'd lived the life of a kid." We'd be in the pub or down the snooker hall by 12. It was 'win or lose, on the booze; if we draw, we'll have some more'. It was crazy. Tony Parks Parks stayed on Spurs' books for another four seasons but only made 19 more appearances before going to Brentford. His career took him to a total of 14 clubs including West Ham and Falkirk in Scotland. But he concedes it was never quite the same. Parks recalled: "As a youth-team player getting into the first team, my contract was up at the end of that season. "I actually didn't get a new contract until after the game, so the money I was on wasn't great. "But if you're in the first team, you're getting appearance money, you're getting bonuses and at 21 that was money to blow your brains out really. "Nowadays players get to the training ground at 7am and are still there at 4pm or 5pm. 'I'd dive head first through a brick wall for him' - Ange Postecoglou's rallying speech reduces Tottenham fans to tears "But we'd be in the pub or down the snooker hall by 12. It was 'win or lose, on the booze; if we draw, we'll have some more'. It was absolutely crazy. "It didn't matter what age you were, it was, 'You're coming'. If Steve Perryman tells you you're coming, you're coming. "Keith was a brilliant manager who gave young players a chance and if he had stayed it may have been different for me. "But he'd had a big fall-out with the chairman, Irving Scholar, and was going at the end of the season. "I didn't really like working for David Pleat or Terry Venables after that. It wasn't their fault — it was all my fault. "Venables eventually got rid of me. It's not until you leave a club like Tottenham you realise, 'S*** — what have I done?' "I get called a legend but I don't see that, I really don't. "For me, goalkeeping legends of the football club are Pat Jennings and Ray Clemence. They're my idols, my Tottenham legends. "Looking back to the final, it was a magical night, brilliant. "When we got the trophy, a Uefa guy gave me a replica of the trophy. I thought it was the man-of-the-match prize and put it in my bag in the dressing room. "But Irving Scholar came in, sat in a wheelchair as he'd broken his leg. No one wanted him there, he was firing our boss. "But he wanted to know where the trophy was and took it out of my bag - that was the replica the club could keep! "We stayed for hours celebrating and stood on the roof next to the car park. There were still thousands of fans there waiting for us. I will never forget that."
The Independent
18-05-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Dean Henderson eyes World Cup chance with England after FA Cup final heroics
Dean Henderson vowed to push for more England action after his penalty-saving heroics helped inspire Crystal Palace to FA Cup glory and their first major silverware. Eberechi Eze's 16th-minute strike proved the winner in the 1-0 victory over Manchester City at Wembley, but the south Londoners' unprecedented evening might have turned out differently had Henderson not stopped Omar Marmoush's spot-kick shortly after the half hour. The 28-year-old goalkeeper, who survived a VAR review over a possible red card for handling the ball outside his area when challenging Erling Haaland before his penalty save, was a standout performer, contributing number of key saves under the watchful eye of England boss Thomas Tuchel. Reminded that the World Cup was just under 13 months away, Henderson, who has won two caps for England, said: 'I would like to think (I'm going). Obviously that's an aim of mine. 'I obviously got my first taste of it (playing for England). I want the next taste of it. That's something I've been working towards for many years now and fingers crossed I can get the opportunity soon.' Reflecting on his efforts in the final, Henderson added: 'I know what I'm capable of.' He dedicated the victory to his late father, who died shortly after his trip to the Euros with England last summer. Henderson said: 'He can't be here and he can't see that (FA Cup final), but I genuinely believe that he was with me, kicking every ball. My neighbour actually sent me a video of the grave and she said she'd be listening to it on the radio with him. 'That means the world to me.' Europa League football is uncharted territory for Palace, but not manager Oliver Glasner, who won the competition with Eintracht Frankfurt in 2022. Henderson said the 50-year-old had 'changed the whole narrative at Crystal Palace'. The Austrian is under contract until the end of next season but has been linked with both RB Leipzig and Tottenham, while other influential members of Palace's history-writing core including Eze, captain Marc Guehi and midfielder Adam Wharton are also expected to be targeted by top clubs this summer. The latter two were reportedly forced to miss Palace's post-match celebrations after requiring hospital visits for blows sustained at Wembley. Henderson is under contract at Selhurst Park until June 2028 and his high hopes for the club's future. Work is expected to begin on the ground's main stand this summer that will add about 8,000 seats. 'We're trying to build something here,' Henderson added. 'When I signed (in 2023) the chairman (Steve Parish said) he wanted to put another stand on, but he needs the players to build that stand and we've got the manager to build that stand. 'South Croydon is the biggest catchment area for fans and we're trying to inspire the next generation and we will keep doing that. 'Days like (the FA Cup final), hopefully that area will follow Palace more and more and we'll see more shirts cropping up around the area. 'Hopefully this is just the start for us.'
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dean Henderson eyes World Cup chance with England after FA Cup final heroics
Dean Henderson vowed to push for more England action after his penalty-saving heroics helped inspire Crystal Palace to FA Cup glory and their first major silverware. Eberechi Eze's 16th-minute strike proved the winner in the 1-0 victory over Manchester City at Wembley, but the south Londoners' unprecedented evening might have turned out differently had Henderson not stopped Omar Marmoush's spot-kick shortly after the half hour. The 28-year-old goalkeeper, who survived a VAR review over a possible red card for handling the ball outside his area when challenging Erling Haaland before his penalty save, was a standout performer, contributing number of key saves under the watchful eye of England boss Thomas Tuchel. #NewProfilePic — Dean Henderson (@deanhenderson) May 18, 2025 Reminded that the World Cup was just under 13 months away, Henderson, who has won two caps for England, said: 'I would like to think (I'm going). Obviously that's an aim of mine. 'I obviously got my first taste of it (playing for England). I want the next taste of it. That's something I've been working towards for many years now and fingers crossed I can get the opportunity soon.' Reflecting on his efforts in the final, Henderson added: 'I know what I'm capable of.' He dedicated the victory to his late father, who died shortly after his trip to the Euros with England last summer. Henderson said: 'He can't be here and he can't see that (FA Cup final), but I genuinely believe that he was with me, kicking every ball. My neighbour actually sent me a video of the grave and she said she'd be listening to it on the radio with him. 'That means the world to me.' Europa League football is uncharted territory for Palace, but not manager Oliver Glasner, who won the competition with Eintracht Frankfurt in 2022. Henderson said the 50-year-old had 'changed the whole narrative at Crystal Palace'. The Austrian is under contract until the end of next season but has been linked with both RB Leipzig and Tottenham, while other influential members of Palace's history-writing core including Eze, captain Marc Guehi and midfielder Adam Wharton are also expected to be targeted by top clubs this summer. The latter two were reportedly forced to miss Palace's post-match celebrations after requiring hospital visits for blows sustained at Wembley. Henderson is under contract at Selhurst Park until June 2028 and his high hopes for the club's future. Work is expected to begin on the ground's main stand this summer that will add about 8,000 seats. Our South London boys 🏆 #CPFC — Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) May 17, 2025 'We're trying to build something here,' Henderson added. 'When I signed (in 2023) the chairman (Steve Parish said) he wanted to put another stand on, but he needs the players to build that stand and we've got the manager to build that stand. 'South Croydon is the biggest catchment area for fans and we're trying to inspire the next generation and we will keep doing that. 'Days like (the FA Cup final), hopefully that area will follow Palace more and more and we'll see more shirts cropping up around the area. 'Hopefully this is just the start for us.'
Daily Mail
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Dean Henderson reveals eerie FA Cup final premonition as Crystal Palace hero basks in club finally ending silverware hoodoo
Crystal Palace FA Cup hero Dean Henderson has revealed he was told on the morning of his team's famous win that he would save a penalty. Palace keeper Henderson became the fourth in history to save a spot-kick in an FA Cup final, diving to his right in the first half to repel Omar Marmoush's strike. Henderson was perhaps lucky to still be on the field having handled the ball outside his area earlier in the game as City striker Erling Haaland ran through. But afterwards the England international revealed that Remi Matthews, one of the club's reserve goalkeepers, had a premonition at the team hotel yesterday morning. Henderson said: 'To be fair, Remi actually said to me in my room this morning: 'You're going to have a worldie today and you're going to save a penalty and it came true. 'I just said: 'Yeah, I will'. 'Obviously, when he got the ball, I thought: 'Yeah, it's right, it's happening'. 'I genuinely did think it was our time as a football club. 'The fans have been phenomenal. They deserve this day. 'It's been so many years in the making and I just throught that today would be the day. 'We did our homework on the penalties on the morning. He [Marmoush] hasn't actually taken a penalty for City but we know he needs to keep his pace at that side every time. 'We knew if I got a step in early I might have a chance of saving it, which I did. 'He hit it well and thankfully kept it out. 'It's incredible really. So many setbacks, so many disappointments in football. But you keep going, you keep coming back to get the job done. 'Obviously, an Englishman knowing what the FA Cup means, it's actually phenomenal. 'To do it with Crystal Palace is even better. It's so difficult to win this trophy, even if you're a top side.' Palace won the first major trophy in their history thanks to Eberechi Eze's 16th minute strike. Henderson survived the red card moment seven minutes later. 'I actually genuinely thought it was inside the box,' he said. 'I was waiting for it to skip up off the turf because normally it's wet out there but obviously the sun dried it up. 'But obviously it was going away from goal anyway so I'm not so sure what the problem was.'
