Move apart, Richard Marles.
Australia has a brand new Minister for Defence and his title is Harry Souttar.
The towering centre-back was a colossus for the complete match in one of the crucial full defensive performances ever seen in a Socceroos jersey as Australia beat Tunisia 1-0.
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Clearing headers, crunching tackles, last-minute blocks, the Stoke City ace did all of it.
But there was one second that outlined his efficiency greater than the rest.
If something, it was a visible illustration of the “Aussie DNA” that Socceroos boss Graham Arnold has preached about.
A clearance from the Tunisian backline fell within the path of Souttar’s defensive companion, Kye Rowles.
However, in his try to regulate the ball, the Hearts defender misjudged it and the ball bounced off his face as he slipped over.
It fell completely into the trail of the on-rushing Taha Yassine Khenissi and it regarded as if Tunisia would race by and bag an equaliser.
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But Souttar fired up the jets and threw his 1.98m body right into a crunching sort out he couldn’t have timed sweeter if he tried.
Souttar then received up and cleared the ball from hazard because the Australian followers packed contained in the Al Janoub stadium roared their approval.
SBS pundit and Socceroos legend Craig Foster described Souttar’s sort out as “a throwback to 1974”.
BBC pundit Danny Murphy was equally gushing in his reward of the 23-year-old.
“He’s like Superman again there, contemplating he hasn’t performed in all that point as properly, its large isn’t it,” Murphy mentioned.
“And I’m glad I don’t have to call a person of the match as Mooy and Souttar, how will you select?
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“They have given completely all the things.
“Just one other point out for these two, Souttar and Mooy, performances of their lives.
Speaking after the sport, Souttar heaped reward on each single one among his teammates for his or her defensive contributions because the clock ticked down and admitted he loved throwing his physique on the road at each alternative.
“I believe you noticed that in the direction of the second half, I don’t assume I used to be on the ball a lot, simply attempting to defend the field,” Souttar informed SBS.
“And each single one among us did that exceptionally properly.
“Coming for crosses, taking the stress off the again 4, the midfield dropping again for wing-backs, the wingers doing 12, 13km, unbelievable and so happy for everybody.”
The response to Souttar’s defensive efficiency on social media was immense.
