Geria rules out truce as Paraguay face winner-takes-all finale

Australia won't settle for the draw that suits everyone

Jason Geria has spelled it out. No truce. "Let them watch it," the Socceroos defender said about Friday's decisive group finale against Paraguay in San Francisco (1). A draw likely sends both teams through, but Geria insists Australia are not in the business of game management. He wants schools to show the match live: "Chuck it on the iPad" (1). The game is Thursday local time, Friday morning AEST (2). Paraguay's path is clear, a narrow defeat could still be enough, but facing a team that has openly ruled out playing for the point changes the calculation.

The stakes are brutally simple

Paraguay go into Friday's match with qualification in their own hands. Alfaro's side beat Türkiye 1–0 to stay alive, then fell 2–0 to the United States. A draw against Australia almost certainly puts both sides through. A win guarantees it. A loss, depending on the margin and the other group result, might still work. But Geria's comments mean Paraguay cannot bank on a cagey, low-risk affair. Australia have said they are coming to win.