Socceroos look to Paraguay ‘challenge’ with World Cup fate in their own hands

The Socceroos are on the brink of a landmark achievement, a place in the World Cup knockout rounds for only the third time. “It’s a wonderful challenge, it’s what we’re here for,” said coach Tony Popovic on the eve of the match in Santa Clara, on the south-eastern edge of the San Francisco Bay Area. “We know it’s in our hands, and we know what a win does for us tomorrow.” In fact, a draw will be enough for the Socceroos to secure a favourable last-32 clash with Belgium, Iran, Egypt or even New Zealand in Dallas with seven days’ rest. A win would see them sailing into that fixture, their confidence restored after the shock of that sluggish first half performance against the USA. “Overall, we’ve had three very good halves of football. We had one bad half of football and we got punished for that,” Popovic said. “That’s the World Cup, and that’s the detail of the World Cup.” The detail in this, the biggest World Cup ever, is easy to get bogged down in. A defeat for the Socceroos would mean they still likely qualify for the knockout rounds, as one of the best third-placed teams – as long as any loss is not a thrashing. But a highly fancied team that finishes in top spot in Group E (already confirmed as Germany), Group I (currently France) or Group K (currently Colombia) would then be standing in the way. Socceroos head coach Tony Popovic holds his cards close to his chest before a crunch clash with Paraguay at the World Cup. …