The Socceroos will continue their 2022 World Cup Qualification bid on Thursday night as they host Vietnam from AAMI Park in Melbourne! The Sunday League Shark is on deck to preview the clash and give his betting tips below.
Socceroos vs Vietnam Betting Tips
AAMI Park, Thursday 27th January, 8.10pm (AEDT)
Qualification Progress
The Aussies have now played six of their 10 games in the third round of the Asian qualifying. They started with a 3-0-0 record but have since lost one and drawn two of their last three games to fall to third on the table in Group B. Only the top two advance straight through to the main draw of the World Cup, while the third place has to to navigate their way through a tricky wildcard process that would include a game against a South American opponent to get into the World Cup.
To say finishing in the top two in the third round is important would be an understatement. The socceroos currently sit just one point behind Japan, so their two games this week against the weaker teams in the group in Vietnam and Oman are almost must wins.
Match Preview
Socceroos Graham Arnold has been without a few of his big stars for previous matchups in the third round of the qualifiers, but there's no doubt the Aussies will pull out all of the stops for these two must win clashes this week.
I expect the likes of Aaron Mooy, Tom Rogic, Jackson Irvine and Martin Boyle to all have made their way to Australia from Europe to compete in these games, giving the Aussies a really deep squad to choose from.
Predicted XI: Ryan; Behich, Sainsbury, Degenek, Grant; Irvine, Mooy, Rogic; Boyle, Leckie, Maclaren
Interestingly, the Socceroos have only played against Vietnam in a competitive match once before, back in September of last year when they met in Hanoi. The Aussies won that match 1-0 and they were probably lucky to do so on that night. They maintained 70% possession but the Vietnam counter attack looked really dangerous, firing off 11 shots to just 6 for the Aussies.
The likes of Mooy, Boyle and Maclaren weren't available for Arnold that night, so I do expect Australia to have a touch more class going forward on Thursday night. They start as extremely strong $1.14 favourites and I do expect them to win, however, I don't think it will be quite the blowout that some people expect.
The Socceroos will likely look to play a pretty controlling brand of football once again, getting one or two nil up before locking it down to secure the three points. I think combining the Socceroos to win with the total score to be under 3.5 goals is a solid bet.
Socceroos + Under 3.5 Goals
$1.90
