SAN FRANCISCO — Australia are through to the World Cup knockout stage after a 0-0 draw with Paraguay that was as pragmatic as it was forgettable. The Socceroos finish second in Group D on goal difference, becoming the second Asian Football Confederation team to qualify for the Round of 32 after Japan.
For Paraguay, the wait continues. Four points and a minus-two goal difference leave them in the third-place lottery, nervously watching other results to see if their tournament will continue.
The Match
This was a game that will not feature in any World Cup highlight reels. The combined Expected Goals tally of 0.83 was the lowest of any match at this tournament so far — a statistic that tells you everything about the quality of the attacking football on display.
Australia, knowing a draw would be enough, controlled possession and territory without ever looking like they wanted to commit too many bodies forward. Paraguay, missing the suspended Miguel Almirón, set up in a defensive 5-4-1 and seemed content to protect their clean sheet.
The best chances fell to Australia. Jackson Irvine forced a save from Orlando Gill in the fourth minute. Jordan Bos struck from distance. Cristian Volpato tested Gill just before half-time. But none of them carried the conviction of a team desperate to score.
Paraguay did not register a shot on target until the 50th minute, when substitute Mauricio’s long-range effort was comfortably gathered by Patrick Beach. The same player had the best chance of the match in stoppage time, but his snap shot was straight at the Australian goalkeeper.
Group D Final Standings
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | USA | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | +7 | 9 |
| 2 | Australia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 | Paraguay | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 4 |
| 4 | Turkey | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | -5 | 0 |
What’s Next
Australia will face the Group G runner-up — Iran, Egypt, Belgium, or New Zealand — on July 3 in Arlington. It is a winnable fixture for a Socceroos side that has shown they can defend deep and strike on the counter. The question is whether Tony Popovic can find the right balance between the attacking verve of the Turkey win and the defensive solidity of this Paraguay draw.
Paraguay’s fate is out of their hands. Their 4-1 opening defeat to the United States left a scar on their goal difference that may prove fatal. But if they survive the third-place calculus, Gustavo Alfaro’s side — who beat Turkey with ten men — will be a dangerous opponent for any group winner.
Turkey go home without scoring a single goal. Three defeats, zero goals. For a team that arrived with genuine ambition, this is a catastrophic failure.
Sources: Sky Sports, ESPN, FIFA
