Socceroos Secure Knockout Round Spot with Paraguay Draw

Well, a 90 minutes that won't live long in the memory for what happened within them, but could have a lasting impact on Australian football.

A 0-0 draw that will see the Socceroos progress to the knockout rounds during which anything can and will happen.

We'll find out the Socceroos' opponents tomorrow, when Group G reaches its conclusion.

But for today, it's time to get the weekend started thanks to a superb result.

Thanks for being with us throughout the morning and into the afternoon, I hope you didn't miss too much work.

From myself in the office and Tom Wildie in Santa Clara, enjoy the rest of your day.

Another great game from the Giant of Aberdeen, Harry Souttar.

He was the busiest player according to the stats, with 98 touches of the ball.

Only Southend United legend Mark Milligan had more for the Socceroos in a World Cup game.

He came off just before the hour mark.

I hope he's not injured, because he was superb in the time he was on.

His three chances created in the first half are bettered only by Jason Culina's four back in 2006.

The BBC Knockout Stage predictor says Iran is our next opponent

That's right Widya.

But that is just a prediction.

There are still two more games to be played in that group.

1:00pm AEST (12:30pm ACST, 11:00am AWST) — Group G: Egypt vs Iran @ Seattle Stadium

1:00pm AEST (12:30pm ACST, 11:00am AWST) — Group G: New Zealand vs Belgium @ BC Place Vancouver

A LOT can happen in those games, and a lot can change in the group.

There are so many permutations, in fact, that I'd rather leave that to our team mates tomorrow to explain.

But any of the four teams can still finish second in that group.

Well done to both teams but can we talk about the head to head rule? If I understand it Türkiye have just been robbed. They finish on the same goal difference as Paraguay but fourth while Paraguay progress. The head-to-head rule also took all jeopardy out of the final games, as the US were always going to top the group, and both Aus and Para progressing with a draw. Bring back goal difference as the first tiebreaker and you'd have Aus trying to put up a big score to overtake USA, and Türkiye would have still been in with a chance. As it is the head-to-head killed the group after Matchday 2

That's true, Josh.

But Paraguay also had four competition points.

Türkiye had three.

Head-to-head rule or not, nobody has ever finished above a team based on goal difference if they don't have more competition points than them.

You are right about the lack of jeopardy in the final games though.

But then again, making 48 into 32 also contributes to that thanks to the absurd concept of two thirds of the third place teams being rewarded with a spot in the next round.

Aiden O'Neill was player of the match

Ange Postecoglou is a pundit on UK TV station ITV.

He's really proud of the players, some of whom he coached when he was leading the team.

"It's a great achievement for Australia.

"It was a tough group and to come second is fantastic for them. It sets them up nicely now.

"It's another World Cup that they've got out of the group stage.

"It's massive for a country like Australia. We're at that stage where we're qualifying for World Cups regularly and now it's about getting to that next level.

"For a lot of countries like Australia and others at that level, for us to break through we've got to get to the knockout stages consistently and win knockout games — that's the next phase."

Here is Jordan Bos, who I assume was given player-of-the-match honours as he's being interviewed.

"I thought it was good from the boys," he says.

"It was a tough game, a bit of a hustle towards the end.

"Obviously we wanted to win, but we got the draw and we're through to the next round."

They sure did.

He almost got the winner too at the end there.

"I didn't get the goal but it was a decent performance overall I think," he says.

Tony Popovic is conducting a chant of Socceroos fans, who are saying "we're going to Dallas".

They are, he'll see them there.

"Just unbelievable," he says.

"Just so proud of everyone involved.

"Now we go to Dallas and we try to do something special."

He said there were nerves at the end, with Maurício's shot.

"[That] was the first time I really looked at the clock and said, 'blow the whistle'.

"But we deserved it."

They sure did.

Paraguay were desperately poor for me.

Now they have over a week to prepare for whoever comes next, a day more than their opponents.

"It's important for us, the eight days gives us a chance to recover properly ... and be ready for the challenge," Popovic says.

You've clearly got a good eye, KB.

Jordan Bos was, for me, the player of the match.

He was absolutely sensational today, creating problems for Paraguay's defence and linking up brilliantly with Cristian Volpato.

Bos doesn't normally play on the right, he's a left-sided player and that's where he's most comfortable.

Today he was sensational.

It wasn't a great game, I think we can all agree on that.

I think we can also all agree that it didn't ever need to be, and the Socceroos won't care a hoot how dull it was.

They got the result they needed and are through to the round of 32.

Barely any Australian fans have left the stadium, and they are now chanting and singing to the Socceroos players.

The job has been done. It's Texas time, with a trip to the Dallas Cowboys' stadium in Arlington.

I hope a large contingent of the Australian supporters are able to carry on, because they have been great fun.