by The Socceroos have always had a reputation for playing physical and relentless football – but new details have revealed how hard they had to work to save their World Cup in the 1-0 win over Tunisia.
Australia have often lacked the Polish, world-class skills that other teams display on the game’s biggest stage – and Qatar are no exception.
That doesn’t mean they can’t make it incredibly difficult for their opponents, though, as Tunisia will attest.
Mat Ryan (left) makes a flying save as Harry Souttar (top) defends against Tunisia’s Taha Yessine Khennissi late in the game
After Mitchell Duke’s marvelous header put Australia ahead in the 23rd minute, there was no way the Socceroos could get complacent after the 4-1 debacle in France a few days earlier.
The team ended the first half strong, before Tunisia, led by irrepressible FC Cologne midfielder Ellyes Skhiri, piled up 10 shots on goal in the second – seven of which were blocked or on target.
For comparison, Australia had only two; neither troubled the Tunisian defense or goalkeeper.
Australia captain Mat Ryan celebrates after beating Tunisia on Saturday night. The Socceroos keeper was huge between the sticks under a barrage of pressure
Tunisia took 10 shots on goal in the second half, seven of which were blocked or on target.
Socceroos skipper Mat Ryan made four saves and had a front row seat seeing how hard his side had to work to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
“This is what dreams are made of, what happened here,” he said after the game.
‘Just super proud. A collective effort from the start.
“We left everything there in the park. It’s the goal of every game we play, but somehow we’ve taken it to another level.
It was truly an epic performance from the Socceroos defence, led by Ryan and 198cm giant Harry Souttar, who also produced what may well be considered the best tackle of the tournament.
Harry Souttar makes what would prove to be the game-winning tackle against Tunisian striker Yassine Khenissi with just minutes to play.
The Socceroos pressed 273 times (62 more than Tunisia) in the match, forcing 88 turnovers and regaining possession 76 times in a remarkable performance. That was the difference in the game.
Souttar, whose performance at centre-back was called ‘the greatest Socceroos performance of all time’ by team-mate Jackson Irvine, of course led the way – regaining possession 12 times.
Irvine himself, who wears himself out with every game, was no slouch; producing 10 plays under pressure and covering a remarkable 11.94km – a mark only beaten in green and gold by midfield general Aaron Mooy.
The data on the right shows the Socceroos’ incredible pressure on Tunisia
The team forced 88 turnovers and regained possession 76 times, led by relentless pressure from Jackson Irvine and Harry Souttar.
New data shows the huge amount of distance covered by Socceroos players. Aaron Mooy covered the most with 11.95km, with Jackson Irvine just behind on 11.94km
As coach Graham Arnold said after the match at a press conference, this victory may have come from the “Old Aussie way… (of) courage, fighting and determination”.
Of course, just hanging on to a lead was a foreign concept to the Socceroos. Ryan’s clean sheet was the country’s first since the 1974 World Cup and previously Australia’s longest lead was 18 minutes; a few days earlier after Craig Goodwin’s first game against France.
Souttar was one of many Socceroos visibly spent after the match, collapsing to the ground in relief as soon as the final whistle blew.
A completely exhausted Harry Souttar (lying down), Kye Rowles (number four) and Milos Degenek express their relief and happiness after beating Tunisia 1-0 on Saturday night to keep their World Cup hopes alive
“Obviously it’s a bit different from the other day, after this game,” he said after the game.
“We hung on a bit towards the end, the last 15, 20 minutes.
“When the final whistle sounded, just the relief – all the hard work we’ve put in so far and in the qualifying stages has come to this.” I’m so happy,” Souttar said.
Australia take on Denmark at 2am (AEDT) on Thursday morning, and if they can secure a win or draw they could well make what seemed like an impossible appearance in the round of 16.
