Paraguay and Australia Through on a 0-0 Draw: Both Perfectly Happy About It

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Paraguay and Australia played a 0-0 draw in their final group game that sent both teams through to the Round of 32. Paraguay finish third in Group D and will wait to see if they advance as one of the eight best third-place teams. Australia finish second having already secured their place. The match was described diplomatically as a goalless draw and less diplomatically as a snoozefest. Both teams had already done the mathematics before kickoff. A draw worked for Australia regardless. Paraguay needed a draw or better and hoped for Turkey to beat USA simultaneously, which happened. The pragmatism was complete. The entertainment was not.