‘Get up early, please’: Popa’s plea to Aussies as Ange pays tribute to ‘unbelievable’ Roos

Socceroos coach Tony Popovic has begged Australians to “get up early” for next week’s Round of 32 clash after the men in green and goal qualified for the knockouts of the FIFA World Cup.

Australia secured second place on the Group D standings with a 0-0 draw against Paraguay in Santa Clara on Friday afternoon AEST, progressing to the knockouts for just the third time in World Cup history.

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“Unbelievable. I’m so proud of everyone involved, the staff and the players and a wonderful young group of men,” Popovic said after the game.

“Now we go to Dallas, and we will try to do something special.”

There were some nervy moments deep in the second half when Paraguay’s Maurício fired a late shot at goal, but Australian goalkeeper Patrick Beach held his nerve to make the save.

“The (shot) at the end was the first time that I really looked at the clock and thought, ‘Please blow the whistle,’” Popovic laughed.

He added: “We deserved it. We were very good today, wonderful performance.

“It’s important for us. These boys are building, they are trying to get fitter and stronger, and eight days gives us a chance to recover properly, get them more healthy, strong, available and ready for the next challenge.”

Australia will face either Belgium, Iran, Egypt or New Zealand in the Round of 32, with kick-off scheduled for Saturday, July 4 at 4am AEST.

“Get up early, please,” Popovic added.

Speaking on ITV, former Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou paid tribute to the plucky Australians.

“It’s a great achievement for Australia,” he said.

“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.”

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