‘It hurts but it’s not going to define me’: Ryan’s honest response to Argentina defeat

Socceroos captain Mat Ryan opened up after Australia’s World Cup campaign came to an end with a 2-1 defeat to Argentina in the Round of 16, insisting he would not let his involvement in Argentina’s second goal define him. 

Unfortunately, Ryan lost control of the ball as Argentina pressed inside the penalty area to score their second goal through Julián Álvarez.

While the Socceroos cut the deficit with Craig Goodwin's deflected shot in the 77th minute, Argentina came away with a 2-1 victory to progress to the World Cup quarter-finals. 

Despite feeling at fault for Argentina’s goal, Ryan had an excellent tournament, keeping clean sheets in back-to-back wins over Tunisia and Denmark to clinch the Socceroos' first Round of 16 appearance since 2006.

“For the group, I’m extremely proud of what we have shown here in the tournament,” Ryan said post-match.

“The senior boys try to get the younger boys across the opportunities that we have when we come into a tournament like this and the impact that it can have not only on our own lives but on the nation as well. 

“The boys left everything out there in every single match and in every single moment. We had difficulties and hardships that we learnt from but we used that moving forward to improve and grow. 

“On the other hand, there is extreme disappointment collectively and personally for my involvement in the game and the decisive goal. 

“Obviously, it contributed to us being eliminated tonight so it hurts. Unfortunately, I had a big role in a bad moment collectively tonight. 

“It hurts but I’m not going to let it define me. I will see what I can take from it, learn from it and come back stronger for it.”

After playing all four matches in Doha, Ryan and Mathew Leckie now hold the record for the most FIFA World Cup appearances for an Australian footballer, with 10 appearances respectively, surpassing both Mark Bresciano and Tim Cahill.

Since the retirement of Socceroo legend Mark Schwarzer in 2013, Ryan has been a mainstay in the Socceroos' starting line-up. 

Ryan played all six matches for Australia at the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cup, all six matches during Australia’s victorious 2015 Asian Cup and has started most of Australia’s World Cup qualifying campaigns.

Reflecting upon his most recent Socceroos’ World Cup campaign, Ryan said: “It’s been great. I’ve been thoroughly enjoying it.

Every World Cup that comes along, I am a bit older, a bit more experienced and wiser. With that comes more ambition and trying to use all that you’ve learnt in the game to make it the best one yet. 

“We have managed to do that by creating historical moments but we wanted more.”

The Socceroos have once again united our great nation with performances at the World Cup like only they can.

Their unprecedented consecutive wins in the group stage of the competition triggered significant outpourings of pride and celebration around the country. 

Ryan thanked Socceroos fans for their support in Qatar and back in Australia as a genuine love for the sport was once again on full display. 

“We can’t thank you enough for getting behind us,” Ryan said. 

The scenes and the memories walking off the pitch when we won matches and seeing the reaction on social media brings shivers down our spines. 

“The opportunity to unite the nation like that is something that is very close to everyone in the group. We take an enormous amount of pride in doing that. 

“Hopefully we are able to inspire everyone out there, younger generations and everyone coming through to go and chase your dreams and take on the world. Don’t let anyone tell you that you are not good enough.

“Those are the main things we want to take from uniting the nation like that.”