Source : the age
Dallas: Football Australia has defended Socceroos coach Tony Popovic, insisting he remains “absolutely” the best person to lead the national side despite criticism from former greats over his controversial decisions in Australia’s World Cup exit.
The Socceroos’ campaign came to an end at Dallas Stadium after a 4-2 penalty shootout defeat to Egypt, following a 1-1 draw at the end of extra time. The result leaves Australia still searching for its first-ever victory in the knockout stages of a World Cup.
Popovic has found himself in the firing line over two bold calls ahead of the spot-kicks, when he substituted starting goalkeeper Patrick Beach for veteran Mat Ryan and tasked 18-year-old Lucas Herrington with taking a penalty. Herrington failed to convert his attempt.
Former Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Bosnich said he was “astounded” by the decision to bench Beach, and former national teammate Robbie Slater also questioned the wisdom of exposing a teenager to such intense pressure.
France survived the sweltering heat of Philadelphia and the dark arts of Paraguay as Kylian Mbappe continued his excellent goalscoring form at the World Cup.
Mbappe’s second-half penalty, his seventh goal of the tournament so far, set up a quarter-final meeting with Morocco. The Real Madrid forward continues to match the exploits of Argentina’s Lionel Messi, with both men also battling for the all-time World Cup scoring record.
France’s dominant performance came despite brutal conditions in Philadelphia, where an extreme heat warning was issued. Temperatures reached 37 degrees in the first half, when the match was played at a notably slower pace than usual.
Mbappe’s strike was his 19th in 19 World Cup matches, taking him within one goal of Messi’s current tally of 20.
That meeting will happen in Foxborough, Massachusetts, in a rematch of the 2022 semi-final. The French, of course, won that 2-0 and went on to lose the final to Argentina.
In the end it matters not that France don’t have a second because they do have a fourth consecutive World Cup quarter-final appearance. Paraguay made it difficult, as anticipated, and the feisty nature of this match extends beyond the full-time whistle, at which point both sides offer some stern words to the other.
When France eventually decide to celebrate instead, the Paraguay players head for the referee. Mbappe seems quite happy, as you’d expect.
Mbappe pounces on a nice ball from Doue and pings a shot at Gill. It’s so hard that even though the keeper parries it away it rebounds straight back to France’s forward. His second shot should really go in and is heading for a little space near Gill’s right post. But he changes direction and dives and manages somehow to punch it away again.
Paraguay 0-1 France, 90+7 minutes
Paraguay 0-1 France, 90+1 minutes
The golden boot race continues in earnest, because that penalty puts Mbappe on seven goals for the tournament which means he joins Lionel Messi as joint leader.
The goal also dramatically reduces France’s chances of having to play extra-time in the Philadelphia heat (though the pitch is largely now in the shade).
Paraguay make two more subs, bringing off Gomez and Almiron and introducing Mauricio and Avalos. The injection of Mauricio is likely an attempt to bring some pace to Paraguay’s complete lack of attacking impetus. They may as well, at this point.
Paraguay 0-1 France, 81 minutes
Doui is on the ground in the box but the referee waves for play to continue. France are naturally aggrieved and protest, as the VAR checks for a possible penalty. Replays show Gomez has definitely made contact and looks as if he has tripped him.
The referee runs over the his monitor and, based on that replay of the incident it feels impossible that he won’t award a penalty here. He takes a look, and then heads back for the field and points to the spot.
This is France’s first penalty all tournament, and though Dembele has the ball initially, Mbappe is the one who readies to take the spot-kick. A stuttered run-up is followed by a finish into the bottom-right corner.
Paraguay 0-0 France, 70 minutes
Alderete goes down with some sort of issue, and is replaced by Canale. Enciso then goes down and is replaced by Caballero.
And then Barcola comes off (he is fine) for Doue.
Paraguay 0-0 France, 61 minutes
Big save from a very big man as Kone hits another from distance that is far more accurate than that other one. Apart from that, however, Paraguay have answers to everything France are throwing at them.
Moments earlier, Mbappe is offering a wry smile as Paraguay appeal for handball after his arm glances off the ball while controlling it under pressure from Caceres. That ball has come directly from Maignan in goal. France win a corner and take is so fast there are only two players there to go for it. One is Dembele, who flattens Gill.
Paraguay 0-0 France, 54 minutes
