Socceroos to make at least two changes for Paraguay due to injuries

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/australia/xSrf6qMM/"]Australia[/a] need a win or a draw at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium ‌to be certain to reach the round of 32.[/p][p]Coach Tony ‌Popovic faces a reshuffle in defence after right back [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/italiano-jacob/x2rPoBfJ/"]Italiano[/a] was injured at ‌training after starting in the 2-0 win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/turkey/QeijuHo5/"]Turkey[/a] and ‌2-0 defeat to the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/usa/fuitL4CF/"]United States[/a].[/p][p]Midfield/winger [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/leckie-mathew/pxSEDSGF/"]Leckie[/a], who started on the right against the U.S., was ruled out with a hamstring injury.[/p][p]Popovic told reporters on Wednesday Italiano ‌needed further tests to work out the extent ⁠of the injury and was cagey ‌about his likely replacements.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/geria-jason/EFDlG9Go/"]Jason Geria[/a] replaced Italiano in the second half of the ​Turkey win while Leckie came off for the recently naturalised [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/volpato-cristian/2B5YqXFG/"]Cristian Volpato[/a] against the U.S.[/p][p]Australians will clamour for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/irankunda-nestor/OdWRR5EU/"]Nestory Irankunda[/a] ​to return to the starting 11 after he and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/metcalfe-connor/zqXaHPUa/"]Connor Metcalfe[/a], the goalscorers against Turkey, started on the bench against the Americans.[/p][p]Former ⁠Socceroos and Australian pundits ​slammed Popovic for benching the duo, with Australia conceding two goals and playing poorly in the first half.[/p][embed guid="28557cfc-9d52-4b5d-8103-788113eac258" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPmfQmT3u1s" social-type="youtube" /][p]Popovic stood by the decisions.[/p][p]"[b]We're very comfortable with the players we chose against the U.S.,[/b]" he said.[/p][p]"[b]I wouldn't change that. ‌I'd only change the performance in the first half, that we could match them a bit better, but I'm sure from that experience we'll be better against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/paraguay/YaNlqp6j/"]Paraguay[/a], and God willing, we get through.[/b]"[/p][p]Former Socceroos defender Popovic played the last of his 58 internationals against Paraguay in a friendly, scoring a late goal to put Australia in the lead only for a teammate to dampen the celebrations with an own goal in the 1-1 draw.[/p][p]Twenty years on, a draw will ‌be enough for Popovic to guide the team into the knockout phase ​as the second-ranked team behind the U.S. and even a loss ‌may be sufficient to advance from third in the group.[/p][p]Although renowned for being a pragmatist, Popovic said the Socceroos were focused only on winning.[/p][p]"[b]We know nothing's given to you at a World Cup,[/b]" he said.[/p][p][b]"We'll have to earn everything tomorrow night, we expect ⁠that we actually want that, ⁠that's how it should be, ‌and we're looking forward to a great test.[/b]"[/p]