With the countdown to the June 4 return of the Socceroos ramping up every day, we will be re-living the key moments of our WCQ Journey so far!
Jamie Maclaren declared it his ‘proudest moment in a football jersey’ after scoring a treble for the Socceroos against Nepal back in October 2019.
The Melbourne City striker had one international goal to his name heading into the FIFA World Cup qualifying clash in Canberra, a strike against Palestine in the AFC Asian Cup 2019.
The 26-year-old got off to a dream start on his 14th cap, scoring twice inside 20 minutes with a pair of poacher’s efforts from inside the six-yard box.
With the clock ticking past 90, Maclaren completed his hat-trick by lashing in Australia’s fifth from Jackson Irvine’s chest pass and he admits he never stopped believing it was possible.
“My proudest moment in a football jersey,” Maclaren said.
“Representing my country in Canberra, scoring a hat-trick as a striker it’s the best feeling.
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“I owe a lot to my teammates and the manager for putting faith.
“At times you question yourself ‘are you good enough at this level’? And I feel I am, I have believed through those tough years.”
Maclaren was not the only proud Socceroo to walk off the field in the nation’s capital.
Harry Souttar revealed all he had been thinking about was securing a clean sheet on his Australia debut and never in his wildest dreams did he imagine celebrating a goal.
The strapping centre-half towered over the Nepalese defence to score Australia’s third from a corner on 23 minutes.
He then watched his glancing header deflect in off defender Dinesh Rajbanshi on 59 minutes.
“It’s been amazing,” Scotland-born Souttar told Fox Sports.
I think you can tell with the smile on my face it’s a dream come true.”
“When I came over here concentrating on the game, it was just all about the clean sheet - get a clean sheet - let the strikers do the rest.
“So I’m absolutely delighted the get the two goals and the win as well.”
Souttar’s mother is from Western Australia, while his dad is Scottish and his brother John has three senior international caps for Scotland.
“It’s a proud moment for me, especially for my mum as well,” he added.
“We do have a bit of a laugh about it [at home] and I wish [John] well but this is my chosen path.”