The San Francisco Bay Area Stadium is buzzing with that peculiar tension only a World Cup third place play off can generate. For Paraguay and Australi...
The San Francisco Bay Area Stadium is buzzing with that peculiar tension only a World Cup third place play off can generate. For Paraguay and Australia, this is not the final they dreamed of, but there is still real professional pride at stake. Kick off is at 7pm local time, a slot that smells of late night drama and the faint whiff of a consolation prize. For the Socceroos, this tournament has been a rollercoaster of grit and counter attacking verve. They have shown tactical flexibility when required, dropping into a low block against superior sides and springing forward with purpose on the break. But will the emotional energy required to get this far finally take its toll Paraguay, on the other hand, possess a different kind of menace. They are a side that thrives on the chaos of transitional play, and their clinical finishing in the group stages has been a hallmark of their run. Both managers will be wrestling with selection conundrums. Do you rotate the squad to give fringe players a taste of the big stage, or do you stick with the trusted warriors who carried you to elimination These are the questions that define a manager's mettle. For the neutral, this fixture offers a chance to see two proud footballing cultures square off without the suffocating pressure of a final. But do not be fooled. There is no such thing as a friendly World Cup match. The players know that a third place finish, however fleeting, is something you carry with you forever. The atmosphere at the ground should be electric, with a strong Latin American presence expected to get behind the Albirroja. Yet Australia have shown they can handle hostile environments, feeding off the doubt of others. It will be fascinating to see who can assert their rhythm first. Will Paraguay try to dominate possession, or will they sit deep and invite the Socceroos onto them, then break at pace That is the tactical chess match we are about to witness. So grab a coffee or a cold one, depending on your timezone, and settle in. This could be a fittingly unpredictable end to a captivating tournament.
