Australia sealed their passage to the last 32 and Paraguay are almost certain to join them after they shared a drab draw in San Francisco which suited both sides.<\/p>\n
The Socceroos needed a draw to qualify as runners-up – while Paraguay knew a fourth point in the group stage would likely make them one of the eight best third-placed finishers.<\/p>\n
The stalemate could add weight to those against the idea of third-placed sides advancing to the knockout stages,<\/a> as there was minimal risk taken throughout the match.<\/p>\n The Socceroos will now face the runners-up in the group featuring Egypt, Iran and Belgium on Friday, 3 July (19:00 BST) while Paraguay, as things stand,<\/a> will face Group E winners Germany on Monday (21:30).<\/p>\n Australia made the brighter start and showed more positivity throughout a first half in which Paraguay offered no real threat, registering one tame, wayward shot and deploying a back-five in the absence of Miguel Almiron, suspended after his red card for covering his mouth<\/a> in the win over Turkey.<\/p>\n Jackson Irvine saw an angled shot turned over by keeper Orlando Gill inside four minutes and the keeper parried away a Cristian Volpato curler from the right of the box before the end of an incredibly low-key half. <\/p>\n Paraguay showed more intent in a livelier second half, after switching to a back four, and half-time sub Mauricio had his effort saved by Patrick Beach within five minutes of coming on, while Julio Enciso was a livewire.<\/p>\n His former Brighton team-mate, midfielder Diego Gomez, picked up a booking which would rule him out of the first knockout game while defender Omar Alderete of Sunderland was eventually forced off after jarring his left knee.<\/p>\n Jordan Bos went close for Australia in the dying seconds while Mauricio spurned a chance to win it in added time when his low strike from the edge of the box was too close to Beach.<\/p>\n