In some quarters there was a belief that Group D at the was not expected to unfold quite like this. While many fans and experts had tipped Türkiye to set the pace, it was the USA who became the first team to book their place in the knockout stages. Paraguay and Australia, meanwhile, still have their fate in their own hands, with victory in their head-to-head meeting on Thursday enough for either to secure a place in the Round of 32.
“I’m very confident that the boys are well prepared, excited for the opportunity,” said Australia coach Tony Popovic at his pre-match press conference. “We’re in this position because we deserve to be here with a game to go and a chance to get to the knockout stages.”
The Socceroos coach also highlighted the progress his team have made, with a potential victory meaning that the nation would reach the knockout phase of a World Cup for only the third time in their history. “The boys are learning from every match. I’m seeing them grow as young men, I’m seeing them grow as players. I’m seeing them mature and I’m seeing them enjoying the greatest challenge of all, which is the World Cup. It doesn’t get greater than this.”
Paraguay will pose a tricky test for Australia, but Popovic stressed that his side have studied the South Americans closely and prepared as thoroughly as possible. “We know what Paraguay are all about. We understand they bring a real toughness and they know how to get a result,” added the Australian coach. “It may seem like unorganised chaos at times, but they’re very organised. They know what they’re doing in each moment of the game, in each phase, and we’ve been preparing the players for that.”
Popovic also pointed to Paraguay having “a fantastic manager” in Gustavo Alfaro, “with a lot of experience”. The La Albirroja coach also feels his side are on the right path, despite their self-proclaimed underdog status against Australia, and is pleased to still be in the hunt for a place in the Round of 32. “Our main goal was to arrive at the third matchday with a chance of qualifying and we made it.”
Alongside the possibility of reaching the next round, Paraguay’s coach also underlined the historical significance of a win over the Socceroos. “A win against Australia would be the first time Paraguay has ever won two matches in a World Cup group stage.
We need to approach this match as if it’s the last one of the tournament. If we do our job, we earn the right to play one more game,” said Alfaro. “It’s a final for us.”
Indeed, there is much at stake for both sides when they line up on Thursday. For the winners, qualification for the knockout stages as group runners-up would be secured, while the losers would need results elsewhere to go their way to avoid heading home.
Sources: FIFA Official
