While not a match marked by brilliance, the Socceroos secured their place in the World Cup knockout rounds for the third time in history with a 0-0 draw against Paraguay at a stadium in the San Francisco Bay Area.
A significantly altered Australian lineup managed to assert control over much of the game. Both teams understood that a draw would suffice for qualification, leading to extended periods of minimal action.
For the sport in Australia, the match didn’t showcase its best qualities, despite millions tuning in on televisions, at live viewing sites, and in bars. The encounter lacked the intensity and stakes evident in the Socceroos’ previous two World Cup fixtures. Nevertheless, Tony Popovic’s side will be pleased with the outcome, finishing second in Group D.
Jordy Bos, who played on the right side of defense, and Lucas Herrington, making his World Cup debut, stood out as the top performers. Ultimately, the entire team contributed to this historic achievement on a cool night in Santa Clara, leaving over 12,000 fans clad in yellow ecstatic.
The path to the World Cup is back on track. The Socceroos had faced challenges against the USA, which had threatened their chances of advancing. The co-hosts emerged as group winners and are now poised to reach the quarter-finals with victories over teams like Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, and South Korea.
Securing second place here provides a foundation for further progress. The Socceroos can take a week off, with their match in the round of 32 scheduled in Dallas for another eight days.
The team will remain in Oakland, their familiar environment, until Wednesday before heading to Texas. Their opponent is yet to be determined but will be the second-placed team from Group G, which concludes on Friday (Saturday AEST).
Belgium stands in a good position to finish second in that group, needing only a win against New Zealand for qualification. Their fate will also depend on the outcome of the match between Egypt and Iran; however, Belgium cannot top the group if Egypt secures a victory.
Popovic’s daring reputation was once again on display when the starting line-ups were revealed. Following two surprising inclusions in the previous match, this time there were even more surprises, with six changes in total.
Nestory Irankunda, Cristian Volpato, and Connor Metcalfe were included, leading to striker Mohamed Touré being benched. Irankunda started centrally, mirroring the strategy from the second half against the US. Aziz Behich replaced the injured Jacob Italiano, while Bos switched flanks to the right.
Jackson Irvine took over from Paul Okon-Engstler in midfield, and Herrington stepped in at left central defense for Cam Burgess. At just 18 years old, Herrington became the youngest Socceroo to start a World Cup match, breaking the record previously set by Irankunda against Turkey.
Herrington began the match with composure beyond his years. Within two minutes, he had successfully passed the ball four times under pressure from Paraguay. Just 16 minutes in, he showcased his physicality, winning a header in midfield and easily outpacing Paraguay’s Diego Gómez for the follow-up. The player, once likened to a baby giraffe, dominated on his World Cup debut, towering over the Paraguayan, who rolled around feigning injury.
As expected, Paraguay opted to sit back and let Australia control the game, resulting in the Socceroos enjoying a significant share of possession. Although they couldn’t find the back of the net in the first half, they created notable chances, particularly down the right flank with the newly formed partnership of Bos and Volpato.
Both players are left-footed, and there were moments when they struggled with width, especially when Volpato held the ball for too long. However, they also set up the Socceroos’ best opportunity of the first half. Volpato was fouled on the edge of the box, creating space for Bos, whose 20-meter shot was thwarted by Paraguay’s goalkeeper Orlando Gil.
Another concerning moment arose on the left flank, albeit for Metcalfe. A collision shortly after the first-half drinks break resulted in a gash on the midfielder’s brow from an opponent’s boot. The team doctor cleaned the blood, and Metcalfe briefly resembled Rambo as he donned a black singlet and headband.
The second half commenced with several alarming moments, emphasizing that despite Australia’s dominance, they were not immune to elimination. Irvine received an early booking for a tackle on the dangerous Julio Enciso. Shortly thereafter, on a counterattack, Andrés Cubas unleashed a powerful shot that goalkeeper Beach was relieved to catch. Tensions rose briefly when Beach and Behich experienced a miscommunication on a back pass, with the goalkeeper saving the situation with a toe poke as the veteran defender yelled at his young teammate.
As both teams seemed satisfied with a draw, the remaining moments passed without consequence. There was a late opportunity for either side, but Bos sent his shot off target, and Beach comfortably handled an injury-time attempt. Thus, the match concluded at 0-0, successfully achieving the goal of advancing to the last 32.
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