The 2018 World Cup Qualifiers continue this week and Australia are now in a position to book themselves into their fourth consecutive World Cup. We take a look at the massive Australia vs Japan match with our latest World Cup Qualifier Preview and Betting Tips.
Japan vs Australia (Thursday, August 31st at 8.35pm AEST)
The Socceroos will be looking to book their place into the 2018 World Cup with a victory but their backs are definitely against the wall heading into this one. Japan haven’t lost in almost a year, while the last time they lost to Australia was in 2009.
To make matters worse for the Aussies, Japan have a terrific record at the Saitama World Cup Stadium, where they will be playing on Thursday night, with the Japanese international side winning 19, drawing 3 and losing just once of their 23 qualifying matches played at the venue. It will be a tough ask for the Socceroos to worsen this record but we believe they are a chance.
Japan has hiccupped its way through the world cup qualifiers and they relied on a late injury time winner against Iraq to secure all three-competition points in their last start. Meanwhile the Aussies and Samurai Blue split the competition points in their last meeting, a 1-1 draw in Australia.
Japan is unbeaten in their past seven games though and have won five of those matches. We can’t see the Socceroos coming away from Japan with the victory and we believe coach Ange Postecoglou would be happy with a draw which still puts them in a great position to qualify.
The Socceroos will likely follow the same plan the Japanese side used when they came to Australia. The Aussies will sit back and allow the play to come to them and they will be hoping to capitalise on the break. We are predicting a tight game with the two sides playing out a draw.
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