October 1, 2018: Indonesian players fall to the turf of National Stadium Bukit Jalil, as the Australians rejoice.
The Joeys had just defeated Indonesia 3-2 in the quarter-finals of the AFC Under-16 Championship in Malaysia. An Australian squad made up of teenagers with a collective dream of representing the Socceroos in the future had made it to the semi-finals of the tournament, and had set up a tantalising clash with Japan in the final four.
The elated Joeys came together in packs, scattered around the defeated Indonesians strewn on the ground, experiencing – perhaps for the first time – the heartbreak of an international tournament exit.
But one Australian elected not to join in the Joeys’ celebrations until after he’d walked among his vanquished opponents. He helped some to their feet, and consoled others.
That player was a 16-year-old Ryan Teague.
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Back then, Teague was 16 years old, emerging from Sydney FC’s academy as a prospect to watch for the future.
In that moment of sportsmanship, Teague showed his true character. It’s unsurprising that on Tuesday night, nearly seven years on from that day in 2018, the now 23-year-old was described as a “level-headed young man” by Socceroos head coach Tony Popovic in the hours after his senior Socceroos debut.
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Teague became Subway Socceroos cap #649 in Australia’s 2-0 win over China PR in Hangzhou on Tuesday night; played from the start in midfield, Teague never looked out of place in a classy 77-minute display in a crucial 2026 World Cup qualifier which played out in front of more than 60,000 fans.
The young midfielder’s first Socceroos call-up and international debut have both come in the current international window off the back of a superb run of form for Melbourne Victory in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
Teague joined Victory last season where he worked under Popovic and the former Victory head coach’s transition into the international top job has helped open the door for the impressive, composed midfielder to break into the Socceroos fold.
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A player who exudes class both on and off the pitch, Tuesday’s performance against China PR will significantly boost Teague’s chances of a recall for the June international window and two significant World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Saudi Arabia.
“It’s a great way to start, isn’t it?” Popovic said after Teague’s impressive debut.
“When you make your debut and you have a couple of great touches early on, it settles the nerves.
“But he’s a very level-headed young man. I know him well and he’s certainly enabled some good balance for us in midfield, and the start from the team also helped him.
“We weren’t really under any huge pressure… the team helped him really settle into the game and I thought he played a major part.”
After the Socceroos’ two World Cup qualifying wins over Indonesia and China PR, Teague returns to Victory where he’ll prepare to take on Adelaide United in a tantalising Original Rivalry clash on Saturday night.
