Souttar ready to beat frustration in Bahrain rematch

Harry Souttar can still remember the Bahraini celebrations that rang loudly through the bitter disappointment of a Socceroos loss no-one saw coming.

Back in September, a late Souttar own goal delivered Bahrain one of the great upset 1-0 wins on the Gold Coast and the Socceroos a disastrous start to their latest round of World Cup qualifiers.

That result spelt the beginning of the end for Graham Arnold, who resigned after the subsequent 0-0 draw with Indonesia.

Next Wednesday morning AEDT, Australia will once again cross swords with Bahrain, this time in Riffa.

“I wouldn’t say they were ever in my nightmares, to be fair, but it still stings a lot,” Souttar recalled.

“I remember saying after that we could hear them celebrating. That probably annoyed us the most I’d probably say.

“So yeah, we absolutely owe them a performance because that night wasn’t great.”

With Group C delicately poised – the top two teams earn direct qualification for 2026 while third and fourth go into another round of qualifying – it couldn’t be more high-stakes.

Behind leaders Japan (13 points), three teams – Australia, Saudi Arabia and China have six points and Bahrain five.

Souttar won’t be surprised if Bahrain turn to football’s dark arts: sitting deep and time wasting in an attempt to frustrate the Socceroos and bring the visitors undone.

He knows it’s on the Socceroos to keep calm.

“It’s so, so important, that. I say that myself as well,” he said.

“But then when you’re in the game, it’s so easy to get caught up in the game sometimes, some of the decisions.

“And it’s one of them when you always say, ‘cool heads, calm heads, don’t get involved with the referee’. We already know what it’s going to be like before going into the game.

“But when you’re in that environment and atmosphere, it’s obviously hard sometimes not to get a little bit frustrated when it keeps happening, keeps happening.

“But that’s on us, obviously, to do better at that situation, handle those situations better.”

The Socceroos have conceded just one goal in three games under Popovic.

Crucial to that has been Souttar, who is also enjoying stellar form under Chris Wilder at English Championship club Sheffield United following his loan from Leicester City.

It is a stark contrast to last season when he was effectively trying to find form at national team level while being frozen out at Leicester.

“It does help,” Souttar said.

“Obviously, last year was a really frustrating one for myself.

“This year obviously going to United, I think it just fits really well. The club, the manager’s put a massive amount of trust in me and responsibility on me.

“It’s just that kind of match fitness … this season I’m feeling a lot better, a lot sharper.”

He wouldn’t be drawn on whether he wanted to make his loan move permanent, given he has three-and-a-half seasons left on his contract at Leicester.

“What I will say is that I’m loving my time there. It’s just been a great fit,” he said.

“So whatever happens will happen, either in January or the summer or what Leicester want to do with me, I’m not too sure.

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”