Matthew Ryan, the Australian goalkeeper, has become the subject of internet jokes following a dramatic penalty shootout in the World Cup round of 16 against Egypt. The match concluded with a score of 1-1 after 120 minutes, leading to a decisive 4-2 victory for the Egyptians in penalties.
Ryan, a seasoned player, was substituted in before the penalty shootout, replacing the regular goalkeeper, Beach. Coach Tony Popovic’s decision proved to be poorly timed.
Not only did Ryan fail to save any shots, but he also misjudged his dives, executing comical attempts to stop the Egyptian penalties. This led to a flurry of memes on the social media platform X, with Ryan being the central figure of numerous jokes.
Gallery: The Best Memes Following Australia vs Egypt Penalty Shootout
Upon noticing the change in goalkeepers, the Egyptian team began reviewing Ryan’s past penalty saves from his club career on the sidelines.
The penalty shootout began unfavorably for Australia when Souttar missed the first attempt. Saber capitalized on this, giving Egypt the early lead.
However, Irvine equalized with a confident shot. Rabia then restored Egypt’s advantage, followed by Mabil leveling the score again at 2-2. Mohamed Salah later scored, pushing Egypt closer to qualification.
The decisive moment arrived when Lucas Herrington hit the post during Australia’s final attempt. Abdelmaguid seized the opportunity to secure Egypt’s victory, converting the last penalty and sealing a 4-2 win, propelling Egypt into the quarter-finals.
