Australia booked ​their spot in the knockout ‌rounds of the World ​Cup on Thursday ⁠after a cagey and physical 0-0 draw against Paraguay, who must ‌wait to learn their fate as a ‌third-placed finisher.

In a stop-start ‌game ⁠fraught with wayward tackles ⁠and poor finishing, it was Australia who had most of the ​chances, with Cristian ‌Volpato and Jackson Irvine forcing saves from the keeper and Jordan Bos twice ‌going painfully close late ​in the game.

Paraguay were pedestrian and had their ⁠only real chance in the dying moments when a ‌Mauricio Magalhaes strike was saved, with the talented Julio Enciso and his constant slaloming runs the only source of trouble for ‌the Socceroos.

The United States are already ​through as Group D winners and Australia go ⁠into the knockout rounds for ⁠the third time in their seven World Cup ‌appearances. Paraguay sit third, with Turkey already eliminated.