Popovic had given the fans what they wanted, and it had been enough.
On a San Francisco afternoon that stretched across time zones into Australian living rooms and public squares, the Socceroos secured their place in the World Cup knockout stages with a goalless draw against Paraguay — a result that required not brilliance, but resolve. Tony Popovic, stung by criticism after the opening loss to the United States, answered his doubters by trusting youth and restoring experience in equal measure. The outcome was not beautiful, but it was sufficient, and in tournament football, sufficiency earned with courage carries its own quiet dignity.
- After a 2-0 defeat to the US, public pressure on Popovic was mounting — fans demanded he take risks, and for once, he listened.
- Six changes to the starting lineup, including an 18-year-old making World Cup history, turned the Paraguay match into a statement of intent as much as a tactical exercise.
- Live sites across Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane filled to capacity at noon on a weekday, with a mysterious wave of student illness conveniently coinciding with kickoff.
- Jordy Bos, displaced to an unfamiliar right wing-back role, became Australia's most dangerous presence — his stoppage-time curler just wide summing up a night of near-misses.
- A 0-0 draw was enough: Australia finish second in Group D and advance to the Round of 32, avoiding the anxious arithmetic of third-place qualification.
Tony Popovic had heard the criticism. After Australia's 2-0 loss to the United States, supporters wanted boldness — younger players, more attacking intent, a willingness to gamble. When the team sheet appeared for the Paraguay match, the answer was clear: six changes, including a first international start for 22-year-old Cristian Volpato and an historic debut for 18-year-old Lucas Herrington, the youngest Australian ever to start a World Cup match. Popovic had listened.
Across Australia, a noon kickoff in San Francisco became a national occasion. Fed Square, Tumbalong Park, and South Bank filled with green and gold. Schools reported a curious epidemic of headaches. Teachers wheeled in televisions. The equation was simple — avoid defeat, and the Socceroos were through.
Jackson Irvine, restored to the starting eleven after being overlooked in the first two matches, nearly justified the decision immediately, forcing a sharp save from Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Gil after being played in by Volpato. He was one of Australia's best in the first half — linking, pressing, nearly converting a late header. Alongside him, Jordy Bos — shifted to an unfamiliar right wing-back role due to injury — was the match's most consistent threat, creating Australia's clearest chances with his direct running and precise left foot. In stoppage time, he burst past two defenders and curled an effort just wide. It was Bos, fittingly, who collected the ball in the dying seconds and ran down the clock.
The match itself offered little spectacle. Volpato, Irankunda, and Metcalfe struggled to impose themselves in the final third, and neither side found a way through. But Australia didn't need a way through. The 0-0 draw was enough to finish second in Group D and book a place in the Round of 32 — the third time in their history, the second consecutive World Cup. Their next match arrives in the early hours of July 4, Australian time, against the runner-up from Group G. The nervous wait of previous campaigns was over. Popovic had taken the risk his critics demanded, and it had been enough.
Tony Popovic had been criticized for playing it safe. After Australia's 2-0 loss to the United States, fans wanted to see him take risks, to trust the younger players, to give the Socceroos a chance to actually attack. So when the team sheet went up for the Paraguay match, there was Cristian Volpato—22 years old, electric in his brief appearance against the Americans—getting his first international start. There was Lucas Herrington, 18, becoming the youngest player ever to start a World Cup match for Australia. There was Nestory Irankunda back in the lineup after being benched. Popovic had made six changes, and only two of them were forced by injury. The fans got what they wanted.
It was a noon kickoff in San Francisco, which meant it was midday across Australia, and the live sites filled up like it was a public holiday. Fed Square in Melbourne was packed. Tumbalong Park in Sydney was jumping. South Bank in Brisbane turned into a sea of green and gold. There were reports of teenagers calling in sick—headaches, mostly, a mysterious epidemic that seemed to sweep through schools the moment the match began. For those who made it to class, teachers wheeled in televisions and pulled down projector screens. The equation was simple: don't lose, and you're through to the knockout stages. Anything else and you wait nervously to see if you sneak in as one of the eight best third-place finishers.
Jackson Irvine, the 33-year-old captain of St Pauli and a mainstay of the Socceroos for two World Cup cycles, had barely played in North America. Popovic had preferred Paul Okon-Engstler in the first two matches. But against Paraguay, Irvine started, and early on he nearly made the decision look inspired. Cristian Volpato played him in from the right, and Irvine's shot forced a sharp save from Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Gil. He was one of Australia's best in the first half, completing 31 passes, nearly scoring with a late header, linking up well with Jordy Bos and Volpato down the flank.
Bos, forced to switch to the right wing-back position because of Jacob Italiano's injury, was the night's most consistent threat. He has become one of Australia's finest players—physical, direct, with a delivery that cuts through defenses. Starting on the unfamiliar right side, he cut in on his left foot, made mazy runs, and created two of Australia's best chances. The second came in stoppage time when he burst past two defenders and curled his effort just wide. It was fitting that Bos had the final moment of the match, picking up the ball deep and running out the clock to seal the result.
The match itself was not memorable. Volpato, Irankunda, and Metcalfe couldn't really impose themselves in the final third. Neither side produced much attacking flair. But Australia didn't need flair. A 0-0 draw was enough. The Socceroos finished second in Group D and booked their place in the Round of 32 for the third time in their history and the second consecutive World Cup. Paraguay would have to wait and hope, depending on other results to see if they could squeeze in as one of the eight best third-place sides. Australia's next match would come in the early hours of Saturday, July 4, Australian time, against whoever finished second in Group G—possibly Iran, Belgium, Egypt, or New Zealand. The nervous wait that had haunted previous campaigns was over. Popovic had given the fans what they wanted, and it had been enough.
Citas Notables
Successfully predicting a Tony Popovic starting XI is like a group of 22 professional athletes completing a half of football without a drinks break—seemingly impossible.— ABC Sport reporting on Popovic's unpredictability
La Conversación del Hearth Otra perspectiva de la historia
Why did Popovic's lineup choices matter so much to the fans?
Because he'd been criticized for being too conservative. After losing to the US, people wanted to see him trust the young players—Volpato, Herrington, the attacking options. When he finally did, it felt like he was listening.
And did the attacking approach actually work?
Not in the way you'd hope. The match was flat, neither side created much. But that's not really the point. Popovic got the balance right—enough experience with Irvine, enough youth and energy up front, and it was solid enough to get the job done.
Jordy Bos seemed to be the real standout.
He was. Playing out of position on the right, he was a constant threat. Cut in on his left foot, made dangerous runs, nearly scored late. He was the one player who looked like he could break through.
The live sites being packed at noon—was that unusual?
Not really, but it shows how much this match mattered. It was a knockout qualifier. People took time off work, kids called in sick. The whole country was watching.
So Australia got what they needed without really having to play well.
Exactly. A draw was enough. They finished second, avoided the nervous wait, and now they know who they're facing next. Sometimes that's all you need.