Source : ABC NEWS
Tony Popovic gives Socceroos fans what they wanted, fan sites overflow as a “headache” epidemic sweeps schools, and Australia avoids the most nervous of waits.
Here are the quick hits from the Socceroos’ 0-0 draw with Paraguay.
1. Popovic gives the fans what they want
Popovic named an exciting starting XI against Paraguay. (Getty Images: Matt McNulty/FIFA)
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.
After coming in for widespread criticism for his conservative selections in Australia’s 2-0 loss to the US, Popovic delivered perhaps the most punchy starting line-up of his tenure to date for the Socceroos’ crunch match against Paraguay, naming six changes to the side that went down in Seattle.
Only two of them were forced, with veteran Aziz Behich coming in for the injured Jacob Italiano at wing back and Connor Metcalfe entering the team with Matthew Leckie also injured.
Jackson Irvine came in to add steel to the midfield, but it was the injection of youth that had Socceroos fans so excited.
Cristian Volpato, 22, so electric in his cameo against the US, was handed his first international start, while teenage central defender Lucas Herrington was named as the Socceroos’ youngest ever World Cup starter.
Up front, livewire Nestory Irankunda was back after dropping to the bench against the US.
2. Live sites packed for a monumental match at a respectable time
Fans flocked to live sites across the country for the Socceroos’ crunch match with Paraguay. (Getty Images: Morgan Hancock)
Live sites across the country were packed as the Socceroos readied themselves for their biggest match in four years at the very respectable time of 12pm AEST.
Fed Square in Melbourne was heaving, Tumbalong Park in Sydney was jumping and Brisbane’s South Bank was a sea of green and gold and not-so-runny noses.
One teenager at Fed Square told ABC News’s Alexia Pesce a headache prevented him from attending school, while a throng of similarly aged kids nursed their respective ailments not far from him.
School attendance rates almost certainly dipped across Australia on Friday. (Getty Images)
For those that did make into the classroom, there were reports of TVs being rolled in and projector screens pulled down across the country as the Socceroos began their quest for group-stage progression.
The equation was simple: avoid defeat and book a place in the Round of 32.
3. Irvine goes close on industrious starting return
Irvine was one of Australia’s best in the first half. (Getty Images: Stu Forster)
Irvine’s lack of game time in North America has been a talking point for Socceroos fans.
The 33-year-old St Pauli captain, who had been a Socceroos mainstay throughout the past two World Cup cycles, started neither of Australia’s first two games of the tournament, with Sydney FC’s Paul Okon-Engstler preferred in central midfield.
But Popovic opted for the experience and industry of Irvine from the start against Paraguay, and the Australian vice-captain went very close to opening the scoring early on in San Francisco.
Played in by Volpato on the right, Irvine stung the palms of Paraguayan shot stopper Orlando Gil in a promising first foray forward for the Australians.
Irvine finished the first half as one of his side’s best, completing 31 passes, going close with a late header and linking up productively with Jordy Bos and Volpato down the right.
4. Bos electric in a new position
Bos was one of his nation’s best against Paraguay. (Getty Images: Dean Mouhtaropoulos)
That injury to Italiano forced a pre-game shake-up for the Socceroos, with wing back Jordy Bos swapping sides and starting on the right in San Francisco.
Bos has developed into one of Australia’s finest players in recent years, providing physicality, directness and a pinpoint delivery into the box.
Starting on the right, he caused problems all evening, cutting in on his favoured left foot, performing a number of mazy runs and manufacturing two of Australia’s best opportunities.
The second came in stoppage time, when the Feyenoord man hurtled past two defenders and curled his effort just wide of the far post.
Fittingly, Bos provided the final, telling moment of the match, picking the ball up and running from deep to see out the final seconds and cement his side’s spot in the knockout stages.
On a night short on attacking flair from both sides, with Irankunda, Volpato and Metcalfe all unable to really influence the game in the final third, Bos was a constant threat.
5. The Socceroos avoid a nervous wait
Australia avoided the most nervous of waits with a point against Paraguay. (Getty Images: Matt McNulty/FIFA)
It was far from a classic in San Francisco, but Australia won’t care.
For successive World Cups, and for the third time in Socceroos history, the green and gold progress to the knockout stages.
The result sees the Socceroos nail down a second placed finish in Group D and avoid what would have been an excruciating wait.
Instead, it is Paraguay who will have to wait on other results to see if their North American journey continues as one of the eight best third-placed sides.
The Socceroos will now face the team that finishes second in Group G, with any one of Iran, Belgium, Egypt of New Zealand in contention to finish there.
The Socceroos will continue their World Cup campaign in the early hours of Saturday July 4, Australian time.
