Assistant coach Mile Jedinak has defended Australia’s widely-criticised starting line-up and approach in their loss to the United States as the Socceroos eye a World Cup response against Paraguay.

Australia will need to brush off their 2-0 loss to the United States and either beat or draw with Paraguay on Thursday (Friday AEST) in Santa Clara to finish second in Group D.

Otherwise, the Socceroos face a wait to confirm their progress as a best third-placed team.

Former Socceroos in Harry Kewell, Mark Schwarzer, Mark Bosnich and Robbie Slater criticised Tony Popovic’s starting line-up and how Australia froze up against the US.

Popovic’s call to bench Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe, who both scored against Turkey, for Mathew Leckie and Nishan Velupillay, backfired and has come under intense criticism.

When asked about backlash, former Socceroos captain Jedinak bristled and asked media to name the pundits - with Bosnich, who has criticised the starting line-up, referenced.

“Everyone’s entitled to their opinion. That’s absolutely fine ... you’re never going to make everybody happy, we understand that,” former Socceroos captain Jedinak said on Sunday.

“But what happens is, we do have access to the players all the time, and decisions have to be taken.

“It’s never easy. I think it’s clear ... no one wants to miss out on playing, and especially when you’re playing in a World Cup game, when there’s something at stake, and representing your country.

“Any footballer or former footballer will say, ‘When I’m not named on the team sheet, it hurts a little bit.’

“They should feel that way, because that’s the competitiveness of it. If it doesn’t always align to someone’s opinion - you can never make everybody happy.

“What’s clear is how you got to that decision, what the conversation was around it. You guys aren’t privy to that, and you won’t be privy to that, because it has to stay within us.”

Jedinak was a player under attack-minded Ange Postecoglou - then worked under him at Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest.

But he wouldn’t buy into whether Popovic is too defensive.

“We’re comparing styles on things that, to me it’s not really relevant, because I think what the opportunity is, and what each coach brings to their own style, is them as individuals - and it runs true to them,” Jedinak said.

“So whether your opinion is one way or the other is absolutely fine, but whether one is more than the other - I don’t necessarily agree to that ... I think it’s a pretty narrow view.

“We know the game has so many ups and downs, and the way that that is managed and controlled is can look completely different and done in different ways.

“What’s important is understanding the moments and recognising that if we are gonna defend, we defend together. That’s what you can clearly see with this group.

“When we attack, we attack together, we stay connected, and I think that’s also very evident with this group.”