Socceroos star Ajdin Hrustic has fired back at critics who blasted Australia's 0-0 draw against Paraguay. The draw secured a second-place finish in Group D for the Socceroos.

What happened?

The English media took aim at Australia, with Sky Sports calling the game "largely forgettable" and The Athletic saying it "won't be remembered as a classic". Guardian Football Weekly panellist Barry Glendenning went further, saying it was "the worst game of the tournament by a considerable distance".

Reaction from the team

Hrustic argued that critics missed the point of the game, saying "you can't make everyone happy" and "we got our job done". He came off the bench against Paraguay, replacing Cristian Volpato on the right wing.

Preparing for the knockouts

The Socceroos will face Egypt in the Round of 32, with the game to be played at the home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys. The 80,000-seat stadium is air-conditioned, which will be a relief given temperatures are expected to reach 37 degrees at kick-off. | Date | Opponent | Result | | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-11-19 | Colombia | 0-3 |

Current form

The Socceroos' recent form has been mixed, with 2 wins, 0 draws, and 3 losses in their last 5 games. They will be looking to turn their form around as they head into the knockouts. With the tournament heating up, the Socceroos will need to be ready for the challenges ahead. And with their experience playing in scorching heat, they will be well-prepared for the test against Egypt.