Could Australia be heading for one of its best performances at a FIFA World Cup?

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Friday's solid, calculated and mature performance against Paraguay in a match where both teams were playing to avoid an outright defeat by denying their opponents a victory demanded a completely different approach to the first round "go for broke" assault on Turkey that delivered one of Socceroos' best ever performances and what is arguably the most spectacular upset of the 2026 World Cup so far.

A draw was a mutually beneficial outcome. It guaranteed Australia second place and a Round of 32 spot with four points, while Paraguay also reached four points, leaving them in a strong position to advance as one of the best third-placed teams.

The different tactics employed for each of these games vindicated Tony Popovic's sometimes controversial team selections and indicate that the coach and the team have the ability to flex when circumstances demand a different approach.

While Friday's game lacked the drama and the spectacle of the opening match, it avoided the heartbreak and pathos of Australia's 2-0 defeat by the United States in the second round.

Popovic and his players would appreciate the irony that while they were successfully claiming the number two spot in their group, the US was being mauled by Turkey.

The US losing 3-2 to Turkey right after dismantling Australia 2-0 is the perfect example of how wild the World Cup can be. It created a bizarre........

© Canberra Times