Sebastian Ryall has done Melbourne Victory proud on the world stage. The 20-year-old has just helped guide Australia’s Young Socceroos to the under 20’s World Cup to be held next September in Egypt.
Sebastian Ryall has done Melbourne Victory proud on the world stage.
The 20-year-old has just helped guide Australia’s Young Socceroos to the under 20’s World Cup to be held next September in Egypt.
And the young Socceroos did it the hard way by beating North Korea in extra time in the deciding match to join Uzbekistan, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates as Asia’s representatives in next year’s tournament.
Ryall, now back in training with the Melbourne Victory, says the qualifying tournament recently held in Saudi Arabia – where just four of the 16 teams progressed to next year’s finals – was a huge thrill.
“It was a pleasure to play with them,” he said of the Young Socceroos.
“We had to win our quarter final against the Republic of Korea (North Korea) and we won in extra time so that was a great thrill.”
Ryall is still pinching himself that he will be playing in the under 20 World Cup for his country next year.
“I can’t wait for it, it will be a great tournament,” he said.
But having come down off the high of his Young Socceroos’ heroics, Ryall is now concentrating on reclaiming his place in Melbourne Victory’s defence but with the team on top he knows that will be a difficult task.
“It’s good to be back and to try to get back in the first team and try to get some time on the park,” he said.
“It will be hard to get back into the team but I will work hard in training and try my best to get back in.”
Melbourne Victory coach Ernie Merrick is looking forward to welcoming the young defender back into the squad.
“It (the Young Socceroos’ matches) is good for his development but the main thing for his development is working with us and playing A-League because it is a higher standard than youth team international football,” Merrick said.
“But Sebastian has come a long way and we rate him very highly.”
“And if anyone (from our current defence) gets injured there is no doubt Seb would be the first choice to come back in because he has always done very well for us.”
