Aziz Behich became the first Dundee United player to feature at a World Cup in 16 years after playing the full match in Australia’s 4-1 defeat against France.
Behich, 31, won his 54th cap after being named in an SPFL-heavy Socceroos starting line-up alongside Hearts duo Nathaniel Atkinson and Kye Rowles, and Celtic’s Aaron Mooy.
The Tannadice left-back takes the mantle from Collin Samuel, who represented Trinidad & Tobago against Sweden at the 2006 showpiece in Germany.
Dušan Perniš was selected for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa — fresh from lifting the Scottish Cup with the Terrors — but not see any game-time during Slovakia’s run to the last-16.
Dylan Levitt, unused against the USA, will hope to make it a Dundee United double by featuring against either Iran or England for Wales.
WHAT a pass from Harry Souttar in the build-up to this goal 🤩🤩#SCFC
pic.twitter.com/PQrh29aF4H— The Second Tier (@secondtierpod) November 22, 2022
However, it was Harry Souttar — former United academy kid and Brechin City season ticket holder — who impressed in the early stages, spreading a sumptuous 50-yard pass to Matthew Leckie, allowing the winger to tee up Craig Goodwin’s shock opener.
BBC pundit Alan Shearer said at half-time: “It was a really well worked goal. It was a theme that Souttar can do that (raking pass) — and has done it several times, playing that pass out to Leckie.
“Souttar was able to do that, whether to the left-hand side or the right-hand side. On that occasion it was the right.”
United would be due a considerable sell-on fee if the highly-rated Souttar was to land a big move from Stoke City, as revealed by Courier Sport last year.
France levelled through Adrian Rabiot, before the turnaround was completed through Olivier Giroud following a sloppy concession of possession by Atkinson.
There was heartbreak from the Socceroos when a superb run and cross by Behich found Jackson Irvine, only for the ex-Celtic and Ross County man to hit the post with his header.
Quality shining through
Former Dundee attacker Jason Cummings entered the fray as a second half substitute.
However, he was unable to spark a memorable recovery as France went through the gears, with Kylian Mbappé and Giroud rippling the net during a dominant second half.
Behich also made a superb goal-line clearance to deny Antoine Griezmann.
The Aussies’ Group D campaign continues with fixtures against Tunisia and Denmark.
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