A cagey, low-event Group D decider stayed scoreless throughout, with Australia's best chance arriving with the clock almost out: Jordan Bos drove in from the edge of the box in the 90th minute and dragged his effort wide of the post. Neither side could find the breakthrough that would have settled second and third place cleanly, and the stalemate ultimately worked out fine for both of them — Australia finish second in Group D, Paraguay third, with both through to the knockout rounds.
Tony Popovic was honest about the nature of the performance without disowning it. "You can have opinions on how the game was played or what we both thought we needed. We at no stage felt we were playing for a draw," he said. "I felt we controlled the game quite well, were in control and had the better opportunities. We just gave one away at the end from the edge of the box, which was a heart in the mouth moment unfortunately for us."
🛋️ The Couch predicted Paraguay 1-1 Australia and had both sides packing their bags — "both exit Group D" was the headline call. Wrong on the score (it finished goalless, not 1-1) and badly wrong on the outcome: nobody was going home. Australia advance second on goal difference, Paraguay sneak through third, and the Couch's tournament obituary for both nations turns out to have been premature by an entire knockout round.
Two teams that came in needing a result got exactly enough of one — Australia's goal difference carries them to second, Paraguay's earlier results are enough to sneak them through third.
Bos's late chance aside, the Socceroos controlled large stretches without conceding the kind of opening that would have changed the group's complexion entirely.
USA top, Australia second, Paraguay third, Türkiye out — a far cry from the elimination story this match was billed as going in.
| Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 USA | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | +4 | 6 |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 🇵🇾 Paraguay | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -3 | 4 |
| 🇹🇷 Türkiye | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 3 |
Australia take second on goal difference over Paraguay (0 to -3) after both finished level on 4 points. Paraguay's spot is provisional, pending confirmation as one of the best third-placed teams once every group has finished. Türkiye, despite their stoppage-time heroics in Match 055, are eliminated.