By Martyn Herman
DOHA (Reuters) – Australia’s defensive rock Harry Souttar admits he has enjoyed watching the video of his earth-shaking tackle late on his side’s World Cup victory over Tunisia after it went viral on social media.
Leading 1-0, Australia were coming under siege from a desperate Tunisia side roared on by thousands of their fans when Yassine Khenissi surged towards their penalty area.
Just as Khenissi looked poised to shoot, Souttar appeared almost out of nowhere to slide in with a thunderous tackle that would have had hard-nut defenders of yesteryear nodding their approval.
“I got sent it a few times from family and friends and it was obviously a nice moment,” the Scottish-born 24-year-old who qualifies for Australia via his mother, told reporters on Monday.
“What’s pleasing about that is the wide camera angle, where you see four or five of the lads getting back – there were five or six of us in the box, ready for defence.
“That was the pleasing aspect for me. But I’m not going to let him get inside the box whether I got the ball or not.”
The 1.98 metre Souttar, who plays in England’s second tier with Stoke City, also made a goal-saving block in the first half as Australia went on to claim their first win at a World Cup for 12 years and a first clean sheet since 1974.
His performance was described by his team mate Jackson Irvine as one of the best ever by an Australian and Souttar has been widely-praised by pundits with many predicting he will be a target for a Premier League club in January.
Souttar, however, says his only focus is Australia’s clash with Denmark on Wednesday when a victory against the Europeans would send them through to the last 16 for the only the second time in their history.
“My focus has got to be the here and now,” Souttar, who spent nearly a year out of the game after tearing his ACL while on Socceroos duty last November, said.
“I don’t think you can pay too much attention to it. We’re one game away from criticism, you take it with a pinch of salt.
“The boss (coach Graham Arnold) said it perfectly after the game: we enjoy, we celebrate with the fans, with friends and family in the stands, but the result will mean nothing if we don’t get a result against Denmark.
“It’s going to be an incredible test. It’s all on the line for both teams.”
Denmark, semi-finalists at Euro 2020, have one point.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman, editing by Ed Osmond)
