26 Nov 202207.22 EST

Summary

Jonathan Howcroft

Thanks for joining me today on an historic occasion for Australian football. Stay tuned for live coverage of the day’s remaining three matches with Poland v Saudi Arabia up next.

I’ll see you back here soon.

Harry Souttar was a giant out there, literally and metaphorically. He’s had a word to Australian TV.

It feels great, it was an absolute battle out there. Both teams going at it. We were hanging on a little bit towards the last ten, 15 minutes. But all the lads put their bodies on the line, making tackles, making the blocks. It was just an amazing feeling and that relief to go over the line and to get three points. We know we could have played better in the France game, we were disappointed with ourselves and the manner of the goals we conceded. But I think everyone defending to really put that right. Yes, just so happy we got through.

I don’t think I was on the ball much, just trying to defend the box. And every single one of us did that exceptionally well. Coming for crosses, taking pressure off the back four, the midfield dropping back for wing-backs, the wingers took again doing unbelievable and so pleased for everyone. The players, the staff, please for the manager.

Here’s Emma Kemp’s match report hot off the press.

Here’s Arnie:

I’m proud of the boys for showing that great fighting Aussie spirit. We were in their faces all the time. I hope we made the nation very proud.

Look, the other night, we played against the current world champions and the boys had the same effort level. The effort level was incredible. Again, when the doubters hate us, bring it on.

After the first game I said it was the best friendly we could have had against France. Because you make a small mistake and you get punished. And a lot of those mistakes were removed tonight and I could not be more proud of the boys. Incredible effort. The Australian fans here, great support. And now we move forward.

France still top group D on three points but it’s now on goal difference from Australia. Denmark and Tunisia are languishing on one point with both still yet to play the French.

It’s looking bad for the Eagles of Carthage from here, and Denmark will have added motivation for their clash with the World Cup holders later today.

Mitch Duke is so happy he’s got tears in his eyes.

No words, such a big moment for my family and the supporters. It is the best feeling in the world, but try not to get too caught up because there is one more game to win and get out of the group.

The best moment of my life and my football career, there are no words. Just so happy and proud of the boys. We made so many sacrifices to get here. It is the best feeling in the world.

Honestly, I will go to war with these boys. A huge shift by the lads, keeping the clean sheet and getting a result, we fought until the end, everyone gave 110% and that is all you can ask. We showed the Aussie spirit and we got the result.

Harry Souttar was phenomenal. That was the performance of his life. Aaron Mooy and Jackson Irvine were combative and smart in midfield. Mat Ryan was authoritative in goal. Craig Goodwin, Mitch Duke and Matt Leckie were tireless. A banner night for Arnold’s famous Australian DNA and the Aussie battlers. Expect to win, done done done.

It wasn’t the prettiest match. Quality football was at a premium. But Australia were resolute, scrapped from start to finish, and deserved the three points. What a moment for Graham Arnold as he brings his charges into a huddle with Martin Boyle on crutches in the middle.

Just Australia’s third ever win at the World Cup finals. It keeps the Socceroos alive going into the final group game against Denmark and heaps pressure on the Danes who face France later.

A famous victory for the Socceroos!

90+5 mins: Australia have dropped deep, Tunisia are lumping long diagonal balls into the final third. None of them cause any threat to a Socceroo rearguard action that is so committed.

90+4 mins: Superb claim from Ryan, commanding his area and plucking a cross out of the sky on the penalty spot with bodies all around him. Tunisia running out of time.

90+3 mins: Tunisia take an age to feed the ball into the box and when they do Australia have enough bodies to snuff out any danger. Mooy then does superbly to clear, forcing Sassi into accepting a yellow card for a deliberate handball.

90+2 mins: What have Tunisia got left? Not enough to get through Harry Souttar who stands tall for the umpteenth time.

90 mins: Australia have done so well all night putting bodies on the line and committing to winning the second and third challenges. Aaron Mooy especially has excelled in a blue collar midfield display.

Six minutes of injury time.

88 mins: Tunisia are building. Kechrida gets free down the right and his pullback finds Khazri but his effort is weak and straight at Ryan.

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87 mins: Sliti comes again, this time exchanging passes and making his way into the box but there’s no clear shooting opportunity. A cross-shot from the left is then drilled straight at Ryan.

86 mins: Souttar again! Tunisia threaten to break in behind but the Aberdonian stretches out one of his go-go Gadget legs and interrupts Khenissi at full speed.

85 mins: Souttar again brilliant stepping up from the back to nip the ball off the feet of Khazri allowing Mooy to clear.

More subs for Australia with Goodwin and Leckie making way for Awer Mabil and Keanu Baccus.

84 mins: Montassar Talbi with a rare shot on target, but it was straight at Ryan from a long way out and the Australian skipper handles it with aplomb.

82 mins: Tunisia work a couple of passes down the left to generate enough space for a cross that Souttar smuggles behind. Khazri whips in a dangerous corner but the Socceroos are committed at the near post. Souttar is there again to snuff out danger with Tunisia punishing a soft turnover in midfield.

79 mins: Tunisia try route one, but it’s meat and drink for a side schooled in Fitba corner. Souttar wins the aerial battle then Mooy mops up on the ground and sets up some nice ball retention. Everything is starting to get a bit leggy and stretched but Tunisia continue to offer little imagination or wit.

77 mins: Australia shift the ball around nicely in midfield. Mooy and Irvine have linked well all night, and Goodwin and Behich have always offered an outlet on the left. Leckie tries to keep the move alive but in his desperation he feels the effect of cramp and goes to ground clutching his toes before the trainer comes on with some pickle juice.

75 mins: Dangerous cross from the right from Tunisia that Rowles can only flick on to Msakni, hit he can’t react quickly enough to divert an effort on target.

Degenek on for Karacic for Australia at right fullback.

73 mins: Mooy flashes a half-volley just over the angle of post and bar.

More changes for Tunisia with Bronn and Jebali replaced by Taha Khenissi and Wajdi Kechrida.

71 mins: Australia inches away from a second! Behich does well winning possession then finding Goodwin, who helps the ball onto Maclaren in the channel. His cross flies across the face of goal but the onrushing Leckie can’t execute his slide in time.

Tunisia go down the other end and Msakni draws a sharp save from Ryan at his near post. The ball isn’t cleared fully and another effort arrives from range but straight into Ryan’s breadbasket.

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70 mins: Maclaren’s first touch is a cheap turnover, but Hrustic’s is a lovely piece of skill to get behind the Tunisian defence, but he is obstructed and unlucky not to be awarded a free-kick. Tunisia are now the side dominating possession, but it’s slow ball with plenty of sideways passes and Australia’s defence alert to step up whenever anything is played vertically.

68 mins: Now it is time for Tunisia’s No 10, Wahbi Khazri. He gets the final quarter, replacing Aïssa Laïdouni.

67 mins: Tunisia link a series of passes neatly through the lines and a cute backheel fashions a shooting opportunity for Msakni but his effort is blocked by a forest of bodies in the box. Abdi then tries to slide in Jebali but Souttar is too strong.

65 mins: Ali Abdi has his name taken for pulling back Irvine with Australia threatening to break from midfield.

64 mins: Jamie Maclaren and Ajdin Hrustic come on for the Socceroos. Mitch Duke and Riley McGree make way. Both put in committed shifts and can be proud of their efforts.

63 mins: I wonder why Wahbi Khazri hasn’t seen any action yet? I think plenty of Tunisians are asking the same question.

62 mins: Awful from Sassi the sub. Tunisia shift the ball quickly into the final third but Sassi has no patience to build an attack, instead larruping a wild swipe from distance miles wide.

60 mins: Nice skill on the left from Msakni but his cross is too close to Ryan who slaps clear. Abdi then tries to feed the ball into the box but Souttar is positioned well to head away.

58 mins: Australia have absorbed Tunisia’s reaction after half-time and settled back into their game. Jalel Kadri needs to shake things up a bit or this result will slide out of his reach.

56 mins: Tunisia now playing the ball neatly in the middle third with Australia dropping off into a low block. Still the Socceroos find the turnover, Leckie battles hard to retain possession, Irvine carries the ball forward, Goodwin drills a tempting cross along the six-yard box but there’s nobody on hand to finish.

54 mins: Another free-kick to Tunisia clipped into the box but cleared by Australia. The second balls all falling their way and with it more time in possession.

52 mins: All the second balls seemed to land Australia’s way in the opening half but Tunisia have evened the ledger since the break. The Socceroos are being drawn out of their shape and into some rash challenges. From one, a free-kick results and Ryan has to be out smartly off his line to punch clear. Tunisia continue to push for an equaliser and now they have some momentum in midfield the crowd is back in the game.

50 mins: Superb chasing back from Leckie on the right to help out his fullback and earn a free-kick with Tunisia looking dangerous. Australia take advantage and on the counter McGree is canny to free Goodwin on the left and his cross is dangerous in the box but there’s no navy shirt to put the chance away.

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