Harry Kewell produced a late equaliser to send Australia into the second round after their dramatic 2-2 draw with Croatia last night.
Darijo Srna's precise free-kick gave Croatia an early lead.
Australia were level through Craig Moore's penalty after Stjepan Tomas handled a cross, but Croatia hit back through Nico Kovac's bobbling drive.
Kewell was on hand to fire home from close range to send the Socceroos through, while Dario Simic, Brett Emerton and Josip Simunic all saw red.
Australia's draw sets up a second-round clash with Group E winners Italy as Japan failed to overhaul group winners Brazil.
The Socceroos surprisingly opted to leave out first-choice goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer in favour of the taller Zeljko Kalac.
And the replacement keeper's first touch was to pick the ball out of the net after Srna's bending set piece caught him out.
Croatia coach Zlatko Kranjcar refused to comment on referee Graham Poll's red-card frenzy, but did say: "We missed our chances. We didn't play the way we wanted to after an early lead.
"My players sat back on it although I instructed them otherwise."
Darijo Srna's precise free-kick gave Croatia an early lead.
Australia were level through Craig Moore's penalty after Stjepan Tomas handled a cross, but Croatia hit back through Nico Kovac's bobbling drive.
Kewell was on hand to fire home from close range to send the Socceroos through, while Dario Simic, Brett Emerton and Josip Simunic all saw red.
Australia's draw sets up a second-round clash with Group E winners Italy as Japan failed to overhaul group winners Brazil.
The Socceroos surprisingly opted to leave out first-choice goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer in favour of the taller Zeljko Kalac.
And the replacement keeper's first touch was to pick the ball out of the net after Srna's bending set piece caught him out.
Croatia coach Zlatko Kranjcar refused to comment on referee Graham Poll's red-card frenzy, but did say: "We missed our chances. We didn't play the way we wanted to after an early lead.
"My players sat back on it although I instructed them otherwise."
