Australia’s dancing goalkeeper: I’m not a hero and this is a plan for a month | World Cup 2022

Australian coach, Graham Arnold, followed in the footsteps of Louis van Gaal at the 2014 World Cup, who replaced Tim Kroll in the quarter-final against Costa Rican Jasper Cillessen. The alternative saved the Netherlands from a penalty kick to the semi-finals.

Three minutes before the end of extra time – at 0-0 – the 33-year-old Redmayne (who has played football in Australia his whole life) got only his third game. “He takes penalties very well,” explained Arnold, who was also a striker at FC Liege and Charleroi.

“I also wanted to do something that could affect the opponent mentally. Beru probably wondered, ‘Why is this guy being brought in?’” It has to be good.”

“Maybe that’s why the ball hit the post (at the third penalty for Peru, it’s red). Maybe there’s only a 1 percent mental impact on the kickers, it was a risk, but it turned out to be a good one.”

This is how Redmayne saw it himself: “If I can win 1 or 2 percent by doing something stupid and making myself an idiot, I’ll do it,” he later told the press.

The goalkeeper was constantly dancing from pole to pole, rotating his hip and making big moves in his arm, as the legendary Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar did in 1984, when the club won the European Cup against Roma.

Redmayne earned Peru’s sixth penalty and a World Cup ticket, but remained modest in the victory: “I only played a small role. I don’t think I’m the champion. He gave the boys the full pound against a good opponent for 120 minutes.” The goalkeeper also managed to toss a water bottle in Stands with notes Peruvian teammate penalty.

The referee did not understand the goalkeeper’s movements: “He threatened several times with a yellow card because I was going to provoke, but I assured him that it was not.”

Redmayne has already scored in the penalty shootout series. Sydney awarded the title in 2019 by scoring 2 in the tournament final.

The goalkeeper also revealed that the plan to replace Matthew Ryan on penalties – should that happen – was at least a month old, but was kept a secret from the rest of the squad. Ryan admitted he was a great support the whole time.

“I know my place in the Australian goalkeepers standings. I am grateful for the way Matty has treated me.”