AL RAYYAN, Qatar (AP) — From a World Cup -threatening knee damage to marking Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe at soccer’s greatest event, it’s been a wild journey for Australia defender Harry Souttar.Now, after a 2-1 loss to Argentina on Saturday and elimination from the World Cup, it’s again to the grind of English soccer’s second division for the Stoke defender.Souttar, nonetheless, has skilled one pinch-yourself second after one other in Qatar and leaves with tales that may final a lifetime. Just like the second he left arguably the best participant ever in a heap on the turf at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium.In a complete mismatch, the 6-foot-6 (1.98-meter) Souttar crashed by means of the 5-7 (1.69-meter) Messi within the forty first minute.“That’s what it’s all about, although,” Australia midfielder Riley McGree stated.Shortly earlier than that collision, the Argentina nice had scored by sweeping a shot between Souttar’s legs — probably the most embarrassing strikes that may occur to knowledgeable soccer participant.So possibly that was payback.Not that Souttar wanted to beat himself up an excessive amount of about that second. It was, in any case, Lionel Messi, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, enjoying his 1,000th sport and scoring his ninth World Cup aim to maneuver one forward of Diego Maradona and one behind Argentina’s record-holder within the event, Gabriel Batistuta.“We managed them so effectively within the first half,” Australia midfielder Jackson Irvine stated. “That one little second, that one half a meter you give him within the field, we’ve seen it tons of of instances, he’s so ruthless, so medical, finally that was the distinction.”That Souttar was even on the identical subject as Messi was an achievement in itself. Particularly after recovering from a ruptured ACL, which he injured in a World Cup qualifier towards Saudi Arabia in Sydney final November.His highway to Qatar was lengthy, arduous and at instances lonely as he labored individually within the gymnasium at Stoke’s coaching floor, watching his teammates out on the sphere doing what he couldn’t.It was nearly a yr to the day that he made his comeback, on Nov. 8 in a 2-0 win over Luton.Hardly splendid preparation earlier than heading right into a World Cup, not to mention developing towards two of one of the best gamers on the planet.“It’s inspirational, actually,” McGree stated. “I’m actually shut with Harry off the pitch, however on the pitch he’s a warrior, he’s bought high quality and he can transfer for the scale he’s. He’s solely going to have a vivid future going ahead, positively.”In Australia’s opening Group D sport, the workforce confronted Mbappe and defending champion France. Mbappe scored within the 4-1 victory, however Souttar and the Aussies recovered to safe a spot within the knockout spherical for less than the second time in its historical past after reaching the spherical of 16 in 2006.That arrange a date with Messi, which is the place Australia’s story ends.For Souttar, nonetheless, his brush with the best will dwell perpetually.___James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson___