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Ryan Teague in action against China during his Socceroos debut. Photo supplied by Subway Socceroos.

A memorable debut for Ryan Teague captured the headlines as he helped guide the Socceroos one step closer to automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

Teague, who replaced Aiden O’Neill to partner influential captain Jackson Irvine in front of the defence, became Socceroo No.649 in a 2-0 victory away from home against China.

The Victory starlet barely put a foot wrong in the middle of the park, producing a calm and effective display on and off the ball.

He registered an 89 per cent pass accuracy and won 83 per cent of duels in 77 minutes of action in Hangzhou.

Barely having time to celebrate with his teammates, Teague struggled to hide his admiration for the green and gold.

“It’s a proud moment for me, not just for me, but also my family,” he said.

“I’ve wandered the ups and downs of football, and to put on the jersey tonight and start for my country is the best moment I’ve had so far. I’m super stoked.”

Known for his surprise starting 11 inclusions, Popovic’s midfield shake-up meant it was Teague’s name that jumped out of the team sheet.

However, given the Socceroos manager remains stubborn in selecting players he knows inside and out from previous experiences, Teague’s consistent performances whilst Popovic was in charge of Melbourne Victory were undoubtedly a factor.

The 23-year-old midfielder shared his gratitude toward Popovic, but now turns his attention to a massive fixture in the A-League Men at AAMI Park.

“I appreciate the fact that he has the confidence in me,” Teague said of his former Victory boss.

“For me it’s about getting touches early in the game. I know my ability, and I’ve got the best players around me, so it’s easy to go into a system where you’ve got good players around you.

“I’ve had a great time away, but it’s about focusing now on my game on Saturday, getting my body right to get out there, because it’s an important time for the club.”

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