silverguide.site –

Socceroos coach Tony Popovic is already focused on preparations for the team’s last-32 clash in Dallas next week after his side’s composed 0-0 draw with Paraguay that booked a place in the World Cup knockout rounds.

the identity of Australia’s next opponents is yet to be decided – it will be either Egypt, Belgium, Iran or New Zealand – but the date and time are already locked in – Friday 3 July at 1pm in Texas (Saturday 4 July at 4am AEST).

Popovic said after the match he was proud of the entire travelling party. “The staff, the players – just a wonderful young group of men – and now we go to Dallas and we’ll try and do something special,” he said.

The coach admitted he suffered a scare late in the match, when goalkeeper Patrick Beach was forced into an injury-time save as Paraguay tried one last time to break through an otherwise solid Socceroos defence.

“The one at the end was the first time that I really looked at the clock and thought, please blow the whistle. But I think overall we deserved it,” he said. “We were very good today, just a wonderful performance.”

His team dominated the first half and looked dangerous down the right flank, where Jordy Bos – normally a left-sided player – and Cristian Volpato tormented the Paraguayan defence, even if they could not carve out a clear-cut chance.

Midfielder Aiden O’Neill was awarded player of the match, but he said Bos probably deserved it.

“They were a good combination, lots of threat, obviously both of them can run with the ball,” he said. “[Bos] is such a talented player. You can see that in what he creates for us. He’s a special talent.”

Winger Ajdin Hrustic revealed Bos has only trained on the right side in two sessions, following the injury this week to Jacob Italiano.

“He was switched on, we had two sessions where we did a bit of tactics and he looked comfortable,” he said. “I asked him if he played as a right wing or right wingback, so I started calling him Dani Alves [the famous former Brazilian full-back].”

The team will enjoy the milestone of qualification, and can now look forward to a seven-day break before their last 32 match. They are due to fly to Dallas from Oakland on Wednesday.

“Hopefully, we’ll get one or two days off, and then we can calm down, enjoy that moment of qualifying, and then you will switch back on and get right back to work,” Hrustic said.

The Socceroos will play the team that finished second place in Group G, consisting of Egypt, Belgium, Iran and New Zealand. Each team can still qualify, and the placings will be decided on Friday (Saturday AEST).

“There’s no easy route in the World Cup. you’ve got to be switched on, it has to be 100%,” he said. “We’ve seen against the US if you switch off for 20 minutes, you can concede two goals,” Hrustic said.

Popovic surprised with his selection against against Paraguay, making six changes to the side that lost to the USA. Hrustic said the team has faith in the coach.

“Our boss knows what he’s doing, we all have trust in him,” he said. “He goes with a gut feeling. He did it in the first game, he did it in the second game, he’s done it the third game and it’s worked, so we believe in him.”