United Arab Emirates vs Australia betting tips: Asian World Cup Play-off Semi-final preview, predictions and odds

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Australia won three consecutive meetings with the U.A.E. before being beaten in their last encounter, an Asia Cup quarter-final clash three years ago. The Socceroos are biding to avoid losing three successive World Cup qualifiers for the first time ever.  

Both teams to score is 11/10.

Australia to win after 90 minutes and both teams to score is 15/4.

Ali Mabkhout has scored a staggering 80 international goals for UAE, including in that aforementioned win over the Socceroos. He is 13/2 to break the deadlock and 14/5 to score anytime.

Martin Boyle has scored three times during World Cup qualifying so far. He is 6/1 to open the scoring and 14/5 to add to this tally.

Match preview

These two sides are just two wins away from the World Cup, but are equally only a solitary defeat from heartbreak.

Australia come into this tie as big favourites, not least because they've qualified for five World Cups, including each of the last four.

Last time round, the Socceroos played a record-breaking 22 matches to reach Russia, winning play-offs against Syria and Honduras en route.

After missing out on automatic qualification once again, they're hoping to tread the same path to Qatar.

Back in March, Graham Arnold's side were consigned to the play-offs, losing their final two group matches against the top two, Japan and Saudi Arabia.

Before that though, it was draws with relative minnows China PR and Oman that had really derailed their progress.

Nevertheless, the 2015 Asia Cup winners do have a second chance to qualify via these play-offs, starting with this match in Al-Rayyan.

The United Arab Emirates meantime have only qualified for one World Cup to date, losing all three matches at Italia '90, conceding 11 goals.

In their final round group, the U.A.E. only actually won three of ten matches, losing four, but snuck into third place.

IR Iran and Korea Republic ran away with the automatic qualification spots with U.A.E. pipping Iraq to third on the final matchday.

So, having only won five of their last 15 matches, Rodolfo Arruabarrena's team undoubtably come into this tie as big underdogs.

The winners of this match advance through to the intercontinental play-offs, where they'll take on Peru in a one-off match on 13 June.

Will Australia keep their World Cup dream alive, or can the United Arab Emirates cause a bit of an upset at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium?

United Arab Emirates team news

The entirety of Rodolfo Arruabarrena's squad play in the UAE Pro League, four of which was with recently-crowned champions Al Ain.

Without doubt, Ali Mabkhout is their star man, having scored 80 international goals so far, from just 104 caps.

Only five men have scored more international goals. They are: Cristiano Ronaldo, Ali Daei, Mokhtar Dahari, Ferenc Puskás and Lionel Messi.

In goal, Khalid Eisa is expected to get the nod over Ali Khasif.

For other experienced players such as Walid Abbas, Omar Abdulrahman and Majed Hassan, this is surely their final shot at World Cup qualification.

Australia team news

Australia meanwhile are without star midfielder Tom Rogic who withdrew last week sighting personal reasons.

This puts extra importance on Aaron Mooy's shoulders, despite the fact he hasn't played a club game for Shanghai Port since October.

Further forward, Martin Boyle, Awer Mabil, Jamie Maclaren, Mathew Leckie and Adam Taggart are all in contention to form the front three.

Mat Ryan will captain the side in goal, adding to his 72 caps; only a dozen Aussie men have more.

Miloš Degenek and Trent Sainsbury will need to be at their best at centre-back if their team are to qualify for Qatar 2022 this week.

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