Australia’s campaign to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup continues early on Friday morning as they face Kuwait in what should be an interesting clash. The SundayLeagueShark has you covered with a full preview and betting tips for the clash, which will kick off a much anticipated month of international football culminating in the 2021 Euros.
Australia vs Kuwait Betting Tips
Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, Friday 5.00am (AEST)
Qualification
Australia currently sit at the top of Group B in Stage 2 of the Asian World Cup qualifiers. They are 2 points clear of their opponents on Friday morning in Kuwait, and a win here would put them in fantastic position to secure the automatic qualification into the 3rd stage of the World Cup qualifiers.
Match Prediction
Australia will be the ‘hosts’ of this game, but due to the problems surrounding travel in and out of Australia and with most of the Socceroos playing overseas, this clash will take place in Kuwait. The Socceroos have already faced Kuwait in their away game in this stage of qualifying, winning 3-0 in a pretty dominant performance.
On that night, Australia maintained 57% possession and fired off 11 shots at goal to secure the 3-0 win, their fourth in a row in this stage of qualifying after securing wins over Jordan, Nepal and Chinese Taipei in previous games.
Kuwait, alongside Jordan, have been the only other threats to the Socceroos in Group B. They have a 3-1-1 record through their opening five games, boasting massive 9 and 7 goal wins over Chinese Taipei and Nepal respectively.
The Socceroos have faced Kuwait on six occasions since the turn of the century, and they have a dominant 4-1-1 record over that time. In their more recent matches in 2018 and 2019, both played in Kuwait, Australia has a 2-0-0 record, having plundered seven goals and allowed zero.
It’s safe to say the progression of Australian football over the past decade has taken them to a level in which Kuwait just aren’t capable of matching, so it’s no surprise that the Aussies start as extremely firm $1.30 favourites here, even on the road.
Really like the value of the Aussies at the -1 handicap here. The Socceroos have comfortably cleared that handicap in their last three meetings with Kuwait, winning 4-1, 4-0 and 3-0. They are missing some key players in the likes of Tommy Rogis and Aaron Mooy, but have still assembled a talented squad which includes proven international performers in the likes of Mathew Leckie and Jackson Irvine.
