Late bloomer Paul Izzo is charging towards the once-unlikely scenario of dethroning captain Maty Ryan as the Socceroos' starting goalkeeper at the World Cup after a man-of-the-match performance against Canada.

Izzo, 30, was selected ahead of Ryan and Joe Gauci and, in just his third cap, was the pick of the Socceroos' players in their 1-0 win over Canada in Montreal on Saturday morning AEDT.

Randers goalkeeper Izzo made two appearances and performed strongly in the previous international window against New Zealand, when Ryan was left out of the Socceroos squad to seal his move to Levante.

But ahead of the Canada game at Stade Saputo, Popovic told Paramount Plus Izzo also deserved a shot at the No.1 role with Ryan in the squad.

Izzo did more than just handle the occasion.

The goalkeepe

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