St. Clare: Unbelievers in Australia see soccer’s low goal-scoring rate, compared to other forms of football, as a fatal flaw. Presenting the defense case was this game: the stalemate of Santa Clara; Biscuits in the Bay Area; the sweetest goalless draw in Socceroos World Cup history.
Millions of Australians ditched work and duties on Friday to gather around their screen to watch Australia take on Paraguay. It was not part of the plan that they would have fun; only that they would feel something.
And that feeling you’re feeling right now: release; the realization that we get to do this again next week in the first knockout round of the biggest thing in world sport – that’s what it’s all about.
Indeed, a goal would have been nice, helping to calm nerves – and a confidence-boosting win would also do wonders for the Socceroos’ state of mind, as they look to the knockout stage.
But, in the end, the main fighters got what they came for.
The Socceroos got the points, the minimum they needed to qualify for second place and a clash with the Group G runners-up in Dallas next week. They also got a performance that, let’s say, gives them something to build on. Paraguay did not lose, meaning they still have a good chance of joining them in the round of 32.
And everyone listening at home — including all the gold shirts in the crowd of 68,827 at Levi’s Stadium — got what they wanted, as well: cause for celebration.
For just the third time in Australia’s World Cup history, the Socceroos have cleared the first hurdle. Don’t take it for granted.
Even coach Tony Popovic did his part, throwing out a few party favors on the team sheet. He made six changes to the side that was overwhelmed by the United States last week in Seattle, doing what most of the country was urging him to do: start Nestory Irankunda, Cristian Volpato and Connor Metcalfe together, while looking for a way to release the locked up beast that is Jordan Bos.
For a young man seen as a defensive-minded coach, this was an aggressive statement from Popovic.
It’s almost working.
From the first whistle, the Socceroos immediately looked better than they did against America. They were strong in the match, winning many second balls, and were able to show themselves physically in the match, rather than bothering themselves. That was a good platform to start with.
Bos has been described (correctly) as a young, Aussie version of Gareth Bale – but he actually grew up idolizing Arjen Robben, the Dutch winger. Robben played on the right, and made one move: cutting inside to his left foot and causing damage. Everyone knew what he was going to do; the hard one was blocking it.
Here, Bos got to fulfill his dreams of imitating Robben.
Replacing the injured Jacob Italiano at right-back, Bos took up aggressive positions, combining with Volpato, another left-footed player, who sat in front of him. He was so high that, in possession, the Socceroos played with the back row, with Alessandro Circati turning up to cover on the right.
Most of Australia’s attacks in the first half came down that right, looking to exploit the chaos the pair would create. All the best positions were taken or created by one of them – but the execution was completely absent.
Back then, there wasn’t much to worry about. Early on, Paraguay looked to target Lucas Herrington with long balls, only to abandon that tactic when it became clear that the 18-year-old, the youngest World Cup starter in Socceroos history, was not mixing.
The South Americans didn’t get their first shot until the 50th minute. Not that they weren’t trying to attack, but they weren’t going out of their way to do so. For them, the draw worked very well, and that was evident with every little instance of time-wasting hijinks, every gut punch that seemed perfectly designed to end the hour.
They made Australia sweat a few times towards the end, but really, they had Paraguay covered.
Ultimately, the Socceroos dominated this game, in a way that Hakan Calhanoglu – the Turkish star who did not give Australia credit for their opening game effort – could not have understood. Bos did not stop charging down the right, making a tireless turn that deserved more awards. But as the match progressed, the action dried up, and the realization that the situation as it suited everyone seemed to be accepted.
So, here we are. In the knockout stages. Enjoy the feeling, forget the rest, and bring one of Belgium, Egypt or Iran. Australia lives to fight another day.
