Socceroos star Aziz Behich has revealed what occurred in his heated run-in with Argentine famous person Lionel Messi, whereas additionally re-living the second he very almost scored Australia’s greatest ever World Cup objective.
The left again was one of many Socceroos’ greatest in Sunday morning’s (AEDT) heartbreaking 2-1 Round of 16 defeat that introduced Australia’s memorable marketing campaign in Qatar to an finish.
Behich was in nearly every thing, each in assault and defence, for Australia and was concerned in a heated touchline scuffle was Messi, simply moments earlier than the legendary midfielder put the South Americans up 1-0.
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The 31-year-old mentioned there have been no phrases exchanged between him and Messi within the dust-up however revealed a snarky remark that was made by one other Argentina participant.
”He (Messi) pushed me as soon as the ball was out and I’ve at all times been all through my profession that, once I’m on that pitch I form of see black,” Behich mentioned in Doha the day after the defeat.
“I don’t see an opponent or a reputation or something like that. I’m on the market to assist my group win and I do no matter I can for that to occur. There’s clearly respect there for the opponent and that, however it’s only a warmth of the second factor.
“It ended up being face-to-face, no phrases have been exchanged, nothing violent or something like that however certainly one of his teammates tried to inform me to not converse to him or one thing.
“But it was nothing to over-exaggerate …. it was jus a warmth of the second factor.”
Despite trailing 2-0 the Socceroos got here roaring again into the sport within the second half courtesy of an personal objective and Behich went inside inches of scoring an equaliser that will have gone down in Aussie sporting folklore.
Behich made a scintillating run from close to midway into the penalty space, slicing open the line of defense and looking out poised to attain earlier than a last-ditch cowl sort out from Lisandro Martinez thwarted the chance.
“I didn’t really feel a contact or something to go down however even when I did and wished to …. the pace I used to be going at I’d have gone down regardless,” Behich mentioned.
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“It was an unfortunate one clearly, discovering myself in there (within the field) once more. I’ve executed it a few instances this marketing campaign however it wasn’t to be.
“… I’ve received previous the final man I truly opened my physique and mentioned ‘so long as I hit the goal right here, it’s in’ and looking out again on the video the keeper’s truly gone the mistaken approach in addition to I used to be taking the shot as properly.
“It was an important sort out, just about like a Harry Souttar sort out, however this time it was on us. It would have been nice, a particular second for our nation and our group however it wasn’t to be.
“… I’m happy with this group and what we achieved at this World Cup and this entire marketing campaign realy and this entire previous 4 years and hopefully this can be a step ahead for Australian soccer.”
