It’s a huge regret my brother Aaron couldn’t see me play in Qatar but I’m sure that he’s looking down on me
SCOTS-BORN AUSTRALIA DEFENDER SOUTTAR VOWS TO KEEP LATE SIBLING IN HIS THOUGHTS DURING WORLD CUP EXPERIENCE
FHis passing has probably made me and John a lot closer now
OR Australia defender Harry Souttar, playing in a World Cup stirs up a cocktail of emotions. On one hand, there’s immense pride that a boy from Aberdeen shared the same pitch as current world champions France.
On the other, sadness and regret that his late brother, Aaron, didn’t live long enough to see him go toeto-toe with Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe.
Aaron’s death from motor neurone disease at the age of 42 in July left Harry and brother John, the Rangers defender and Scotland international, devastated.
Before and after the 4-1 defeat to Les Bleus on Tuesday night, the 24-year-old Stoke City player took a moment to think of the sibling he lost in the summer.
‘After games like France, I think about Aaron,’ he told Sportsmail. ‘I think I’ve got to. Both before and after the game I thought about him.
‘It’s been really tough mentally, but you have to put it into perspective.
‘What I and John and the rest of the family were going through was nothing compared to what Aaron was going through before he passed away. Not even one per cent of what he endured.
‘Listen, we spoke about the World Cup and how it would be before he sadly passed away.
‘It’s a huge regret that he couldn’t be around to see me play in Qatar but, wherever he is, I’m sure he is looking down on me.
‘So, while the result of the France game was a disappointment, it was a night to remember my brother as well.’
Harry’s appearance in the Al Janoub Stadium was watched by mum Heather and dad Jack, with his girlfriend also there to offer support. Brother John remained at home for treatment to the injury which restricted him to one Rangers appearance since his summer move from Hearts. The centre-back suffered severe Achilles injuries earlier in his career and missed several games towards the end of last season after picking up an ankle knock.
United in grief after the loss of Aaron, Harry is convinced that John will prove Rangers were right to sign him despite a frustrating start to his time at Ibrox so far.
‘The passing of Aaron has probably made me and John a lot closer,’ he admitted.
‘We text most days now and adversity made us closer than we were before, I think.
‘He has had his injury issues since joining Rangers and I really hope he can get back pretty soon. I’ve no doubt he’ll make an impact under a new manager.’
With one Souttar brother playing for Australia and the other for Scotland, it poses an obvious question. How did Harry — born and raised in Aberdeenshire — finish up playing for the Socceroos in the World Cup finals when he was capped by Scotland at Under-17s and 19s level?
‘It was a pretty simple decision, to be honest with you. A lot gets made of me playing Scotland 17s and 19s, but they’re just youth caps. They were important at the time, but they don’t really mean anything at this level.
‘So when the decision to commit to Australia came, I spoke to my family about it.
‘My mum is from Western Australia, so it wasn’t a huge jump to take. It was a pretty straightforward decision and everyone in the family was buzzing. ‘To play in a World Cup is a dream come true, it’s as simple as that. ‘It’s a thrill for me and my family — and for my mum especially. And I feel as if this has vindicated the choice I made.
‘My mum and dad and girlfriend were all at the France game. I saw them at the end, and it was a really proud moment.
‘John couldn’t make it out because of his recuperation from injury, and he is back at the Rangers training ground, but we are in touch by text.
‘You can’t buy these moments and, while it’s a feeling of pride, there was disappointment in the result against France as well... going ahead in the game and then conceding goals which were avoidable from our point of view.
‘It’s something we can pride ourselves on normally, something we are good at avoiding.
‘But France are top class and it’s now a massive game against Tunisia on Saturday. With Tunisia drawing against Denmark in their first game we are still in the mix and we need to go again.’
Doha is a city buzzing with the vibrant buzz of supporters from Africa. Tunisia’s might be the most vocal of all.
With the Australia players a close-knit bunch, Souttar will draw strength amid a hostile atmosphere from the SPFL posse who make up a sizeable chunk of the Socceroos squad.
Souttar added: ‘There are the three Hearts guys, Keanu (Baccus) at St Mirren, Aaron (Mooy) at Celtic and stuff, and Martin Boyle as well. There are also lots of lads who used to play in Scotland like Jason Cummings and Jackson Irvine.
‘So, yeah, there is a good connection there and everybody is really disappointed for Boyley that his season is now over.
‘I’m gutted for him actually, but we will go again on Saturday and try our best to keep things alive.’