He’s the joker in the Socceroo pack but makeshift right back Ryan McGowan is serious about showing the doubters he belongs at this level.
Ostensibly a central defender, the 24-year-old has been thrown in as a right back to cover for the injured Ivan Franjic.
And the Chinese based Socceroo has barely put a foot wrong since coming on as a substitute in the first few minutes of the second half in the Socceroos’ group opener against Chile.
Then, against Holland in Porto Alegre, the Shandong Luneng defender was a solid presence who set up Tim Cahill brilliantly for the striker to score one of the goals of the tournament.
It’s been two fingers up to the doubters who’ve lacked faith in his ability.
“All my career I have had people telling me that I am not good enough,” he said on Friday.
“But I have worked hard to get here.”
And the South Australian nicknamed "Gowzer" is enjoying his time with the national team – even commentating on Cahill’s wonder goal in a light-hearted FFA TV video with teammate James Holland.
Click here to see the video.
But the former Hearts favourite - who famously scored in that club's 5-1 win over Hibernian in a Scottish Cup tie - pointed to the enlightened and refreshing Socceroo era under coach Ange Postecoglou.
“Ange is very clear in his training methods and how he wants to play. It makes our job as players a lot easier. He has installed a belief in everybody. He is one of the best coaches I have worked with.”
The Socceroos left Vitoria on Friday afternoon bound for Curitiba with a famous result against the Spaniards the aim.
It’d be some finish to what’s already been a successful campaign for the green and gold, despite the results.
“At the end of the day what we want against Spain is a result," McGowan added.
“I think they have been a little unlucky. Spain will want to go out and prove the doubters wrong."
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