Socceroos wait on other groups after Paraguay draw

Paraguay draw leaves Australia waiting

Your Socceroos drew 1–1 with Paraguay in the final Group D match, and the tournament does not let you breathe. A supercomputer model had this as enough to progress, even a narrow defeat was projected to get Australia through, so the point should hold. But nothing is locked. Other groups are still playing, and your place in the round of 32 depends on results elsewhere. Fans are doing the maths, not celebrating.

Ryan benched, Popovic went with his gut

Maty Ryan did not start. Coach Tony Popovic picked Patrick Beach in goal and called it a gut feeling. Ryan, the captain, has made his disappointment public. That tension lingers into the knockout rounds, if they come. A benched captain does not quietly forget.