Ryan: You can't take anything for granted

Subway Socceroos goalkeeper Mat Ryan discussed the positive vibes in camp as the team prepares to take on Saudi Arabia in the final FIFA World Cup 2026™ Third Round Qualifier.
 

The game on Wednesday morning (AEST) will also mark an important milestone for the goalkeeper, as he looks to bring up his 100th game in green and gold, joining fellow Socceroos legends Tim Cahill and Mark Schwarzer as the only other players to do so.

The Australia captain was speaking to media from Jeddah on Monday.

Good vibes

Things are good. The vibe is good. No injuries or illness or suspensions or anything that I've been made aware of. Everyone's just eager to get the opportunity again to pull on that great jersey, and in the circumstances we're in, we’re looking to finish off the job.

Success at our fingertips

I've been fortunate enough to be part of a few campaigns now, and it's no easy task to qualify the nation for a World Cup. To be in the position we are right now - being a strong one, to go and have it 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.

Bringing up the century

If I’m selected to play, it’s my 100th cap. Without trying to sound cliche, I'm not treating this game any differently to how I treated my first one, or my fifth one, or my 10th, 50th, whatever. I think that's what the jersey deserves. Any time that an individual gets the opportunity to put that jersey on and represent our great country, it just demands the utmost dedication and sacrifice in every other aspect to earn that right to be out on that pitch, to wear that jersey. So in that regard, I'm just approaching it as any other game and trying to create another lifelong memory through having a good win against a good opposition in Saudi Arabia, away from home.

The bounce-back

I'm pretty proud of the fact that I've managed to fight my way back in [after a spell on the bench last year]. At the same time, I believe, as a footballer, no one is ever entitled to playing for a team. You’ve got to go out there and earn that right every single day on the training pitch, off the training pitch as well, making sure you're doing the right things. And at the end of the day, when you get the opportunity to pull on that jersey and get on that pitch, it's the player's responsibility to make the most of that opportunity and give the manager a reason to select them moving forward. So I understand my responsibility in that regard. I think I come from a real grounded upbringing and background, so I never felt like I was entitled to be playing in any moment. I think with that approach, it helped me just get my head down and work harder than ever before and try to do everything I could to get back in.

Mentality

At the end of the day, actions speak louder than words. So we've got to go out there and finish off the job. In life, anything is possible. You can't take anything for granted, and by no means is the job finished. We want to continue the momentum that we have. Momentum in life, and in football, is an incredible thing. I've witnessed both positive and negative momentum in regard to results and performances in football. We're on a great run at the moment, and we want to continue that. I think it's important that we just stay focused and stay present in what we're doing at the minute. Our principles and our characteristics as a team in what we're focusing on are bringing the results at the moment, so I believe we just need to continue to tap into that, and then the results will come. So that's all we're focusing on at the minute.

Preparation

Every match that I prepare for, I'm trying to prepare to help the team that I'm representing beat the opposition. So in that regard, nothing changes [against Saudi Arabia]. We're all competitive in here. The chit-chat among the boys is that it's a great opportunity for us to go out and earn another cap for our nation, and to secure a qualification by beating Saudi away would be the perfect way to do that. So that's what we're fully focused on.

Match Details

Saudi Arabia v Subway Socceroos
Tuesday, 10 June 2025 local / Wednesday, 11 June 2025 AEST
King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Jeddah
Kick-off: 9.15pm local / 4.15am AEST
Broadcast: Paramount+