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Socceroos must start winning: Ryan

Roar Guru
19th November, 2014
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Dejected Socceroos goalkeeper Mat Ryan admits he’s sick of losing and says Australia must do something to stop the rot.

The Socceroos slumped to their eighth loss under coach Ange Postecoglou in falling 2-1 to Asian champions Japan in Osaka on Tuesday.

Australia looked the goods in the first half but were undone after the break when Japan asserted themselves.

Both of Japan’s goals were the result of defensive lapses in set pieces but Ryan, who pulled off a few great saves during the match, can’t be blamed for either

Ryan is enjoying a 16-game unbeaten run at his Belgian side Club Brugge and came into Tuesday’s match fresh off a 5-0 thumping over Westerlo.

But at international level he’s only tasted victory once in the last year, in Australia’s 1-0 win over Costa Rica – Postecoglou’s first game in charge – with Mitch Langerak playing in the Socceroos’ only other win under the coach, a 3-2 victory over Saudi Arabia.

The 22-year-old former Central Coast gloveman says things have to change with the Asian Cup less than two months away.

“We can take plenty of positives from the way we played, but again the result wasn’t there,” he said.

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“I’m a sore loser, I hate losing and the rest of the team are like that. It’s a pretty disappointed change room.

“It’s a results-based game so we’ve got to start turning those results around now.

“That’s it. There’s no more practice games before the tournament, so something just has to change.”

Ryan’s opposite in the Japan side, goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima, also plies his trade in the Belgium top tier with Standard Liege.

He said he’s always impressed with Ryan when they clash and had nothing but praise for the young gun shot stopper.

“He’s doing very well and he is very good with his feet and everything.” he said.

“I like his style.”

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