Popovic hails Australia's 'wonderful achievement' after reaching knockout stages

[p]Following a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/australia-xSrf6qMM/turkey-7s-QeijuHo5/?mid=nLNXPs35"]2-0 win[/a] over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/turkey/QeijuHo5/"]‌Turkey[/a] and a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/australia-xSrf6qMM/usa-fuitL4CF/?mid=S0aAVubs"]2-0 defeat[/a] by the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/usa/fuitL4CF/"]‌United States[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/australia/xSrf6qMM/"]Australia[/a] qualified for the knockout phase at a third World Cup ‌and second time in succession.[/p][p][b]"One ⁠wonderful achievement, ‌from the backing of the FA all the ​way through to the staff, the players, the fans. It's ​a special day," [/b]said Popovic.[/p][image alt="Paraguay vs Australia momentum" id="420fb51d-be2b-431f-9650-3825f3abc05b" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="e8f86a5b-4159-403f-8d96-12b5e40585fc" original-width="1920" original-height="1080" /][p]Australia only needed a draw [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/australia-xSrf6qMM/paraguay-YaNlqp6j/?mid=lGmJTJSg"]against the Paraguayans[/a] ⁠to advance ​but Popovic said his team had tried their hardest to win.[/p][p][b]"You can have opinions on how the game was ‌played, or what we both thought we needed, but we at no stage felt that we were playing for a draw. I thought we controlled the game quite well, and were in control, and had the better opportunities."[/b][/p][p]Popovic declined to comment on making ‌six changes to his starting 11, ​saying that every player was important ‌and that "no one is entitled to the shirt".[/p][p]Australia will face the runner-up in Group G in Dallas, where they could meet any ⁠of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/egypt/bejDn7NN/"]Egypt[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/belgium/GbB957na/"]Belgium[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/iran/xrRx85iA/"]⁠Iran[/a] or [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-zealand/rLctHkpU/"]‌New Zealand[/a].[/p][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /]