In a match dominated by pragmatism, Paraguay and Australia played to a 0-0 draw on Thursday night in the final Group D match. The result secured a direct spot in the knockout round for the “Socceroos” and left the Albirroja hanging by a thread, though with strong mathematical hopes of advancing.
The tournament’s new format, expanded to 48 teams (with the eight best third-place finishers from the 12 groups advancing), led both teams to adopt an extremely cautious approach. Both teams entered this match with three points each, following their respective victories over Turkey.
The Reward of a Draw
The winner of this match was guaranteed second place in the group, behind only the United States. However, the draw was enough for Australia to secure that coveted second spot, thanks to a better goal difference.
For Paraguay, earning four points puts them firmly in the running for one of the spots as the best third-place team. Unless a series of extraordinarily unfavorable results occurs during the final two days of the group stage, the South American team should advance to the next round.
A Dull, Uninspiring Match
True to the “don’t lose” script, the match offered little excitement in either penalty area. Australia dominated the dangerous plays in the first half, testing Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Gill, who responded competently by stopping an early attempt by Jackson Irvine and another dangerous run by Cristian Volpato in first-half stoppage time.
In the second half, both teams played even more cautiously. Paraguay managed to gain a slight edge in possession, but neither side could create any real scoring chances. The only highlights in the final minutes were a wayward shot by Australia’s Jordan Bos in the 90th minute and a low, lackluster shot by Paraguay’s Mauricio in stoppage time, which goalkeeper Patrick Beach handled with ease.
Key Moments
- Australia’s milestone: Socceroos coach Tony Popovic made six changes to his starting lineup. Notable was the World Cup debut of Lucas Herrington, who plays for the Colorado Rapids of the MLS; at just 18 years old, he became the youngest Australian player to appear in a World Cup match.
- The Immediate Future: With this result, Australia advances to the round of 16 for the third time in its history. They will play on July 3 in Arlington, Texas, against the second-place team in Group G (to be determined this Friday).
- Alarm bells in Paraguay: The bad news for La Albirroja is that midfielder Diego Gómez received his second yellow card of the tournament. If they advance to the next round, Gómez will be suspended and will miss the crucial round of 16 match.
Paraguay will have to be patient in front of the TV this weekend, hoping the numbers work in their favor so they can compete in their fifth knockout round in World Cup history.
Which other team or group are you keeping an eye on as the group stage comes to a close?
