Prediction: Match to end in 1-1 draw
Best Odds: 6/1
Bookmaker: Zetbet
The USA and Australia will lock horns with each other in a friendly international this week. The match between Mauricio Pochettino’s side and Tony Popovic’s team will be held at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado and is scheduled to kick off at 2am UK time on Wednesday.
USA
The USA will be determined to produce a good display against Australia after playing out a 1-1 draw with Ecuador last weekend.
It was an encouraging performance for USMNT, and the Americans are looking forward to the test against Australia.
USA manager Mauricio Pochettino said: “Progression is progression. And when you feel the progression, I think it’s good.
“Australia, that is a team who are very aggressive, and they came from a very good run of games.
“They beat Canada in Canada; I think we need to respect, and we really respect. They are going to be another good test, like Ecuador, for us.”
The former Tottenham Hotspur manager added: “I think it’s going to be a good opportunity to maybe give the possibility to some players to perform and to play.”
Team News:
The USA are likely to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation against Australia. Turner will be in goal and will have Carter-Vickers, Richards and Ream in front of him in defence. Weah, Tessmann, McKennie and Arfsten will be the four midfielders. Pulisic and Wright will be deployed in attacking midfield. Balogun will lead the line for the USA.
Australia
Australia have established themselves as a major power in global football and have a very good and strong team.
The Socceroos are in good form, too, having not lost any of their last 11 matches under manager Tony Popovic.
Popovic said: “We’ve been accustomed to going through the playoffs, so it’s quite rare for us to be automatically qualified with a year to prepare.
“We’re looking always for top opposition, challenges that can make it difficult for us. We had that against Canada and we expect the same against the United States.
“We’re really just playing opposition that are tough, that have quality.
“Here, we are up against a host nation. We know the quality they have.
“They have a wonderful manager, they have players who are playing at the peak of their powers in the best leagues in the world.
“We want to challenge ourselves, and that’s why we happily took on these two games.
“We’d like to grow further from the Canada match and try and improve, and try and take that into another difficult encounter.
“We want to win every game. It’s always easy to say when you don’t get the result that the result doesn’t matter because it’s a friendly – that’s a throwaway line that’s easy to use – but we want to keep our run going.”
Team News:
Australia are likely to line up in a 5-3-1 formation against the USA. Izzo will be in goal and will have Italiano, Burgess, Degenek, Circati and Rowles in front of him in defence. Metcalfe, O’Neill, Ballard and Irankunda will be deployed in midfield. Toure will lead the line for Australia.
Key Factors to Consider
- USA have lost 3 of their last 6 friendly international matches.
- USA have won 3 of their last 6 matches in all competitions.
- USA have drawn 1 of their last 6 games in all competitions.
- Australia have won their last 5 games in all competitions.
- Australia have won 5 of their last 6 friendly international games.
Conclusion
Australia are in better form, but the USA have a good team. It is very likely that this particular friendly international match will end in a draw.
Prediction: Match to end in 1-1 draw
Best Odds: 6/1
Bookmaker: Zetbet
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