Chile is a heavy favorite to take its opening Group B match against Australia at Arena Pantanal in Cuiabá, Mato Grosso. Australia will be coming into into this match a very heavy underdog as a win or a tie will be very unlikely.
What you have is two team that play completely different styles and maintain a different philosophy of soccer overall with a vast gap in technical skill. Unfortunately, you have Australia with the mindset that if it can even get a point in any of its first round matches, the tournament would be a success. Don’t hold your breath but we all know that anything can happen on any given day so let’s at least hope for a competitive match.
Chile is going into this match with 7 wins out of their last 10 games and 1 draw and only 2 loses while Australia has only won twice in its last 10 games and drawing only twice.
Chile historically has been a very technical side with lots of possession play with some very exciting scoring punch. On the flip side Australia will really need to focus to hold onto the ball and not give it away if it’s going to have any chance to compete in this match and also avoid getting humiliated.
Look for Chile’s Arturo Vidal to take control of the midfield if he can suit up as his nagging injury may prevent him from playing this opening match. Reports out of Chile’s camp are that he more than likely will have to pass this game and rest.
In place of Vidal, should he sit this match, Chile’s Alex Sanchez who plays for mighty Barcelona and Valencia’s Eduardo Vargas can pick up the slack and make it a long day for Australia.
Prediction: Chile 3 Australia 0
Betting Odds:
Chile: -1 (130) Moneyline -250
Austrailia: +1 (+110) Moneyline +750
Draw +350
Odds To Win Group (Bovada.lv)
2/3 Spain
3/1 Netherlands
15/4 Chile
66/1 Australia
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