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Australia vs Republic of Ireland odds and betting statistics
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Australia vs Republic of Ireland match preview
It’s the opening night of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, so will the co-hosts make a winning start in front of over 75,000 supporters in Sydney?
Australia come into this tournament on home soil with sky-high expectations, aiming to reach the World Cup semi-finals for the very first time.
The Matildas were dumped out in the quarter-finals at three successive tournament between 2007 and 2015, before crashing out in the round of 16 last time round, ousted by Norway on penalties.
Since, Australia have reached the last four at the Olympics for the first time, but were eliminated by Sweden before a defeat to the U.S. in the Bronze Medal match.
Nevertheless, friendly wins over Spain, England and France so far this year, the latter coming less than a week ago, mean Tony Gustavsson’s team have to be amongst the front-runners to go all the way.
In a competitive-looking Group B, with Canada and Nigeria completing the quartet, the co-hosts will be desperate to make a winning start.
Last October, the Girls in Green beat Scotland at Hampden in the UEFA play-offs, Amber Barrett the only scorer, a result that secured their spot Down Under.
In the intervening months, Vera Pauw’s team have twice lost to USA, 2-0 and 1-0, before a 3-0 defeat against France in Dublin a fortnight ago.
This pretty well summarises the fact that Ireland will be no push-overs in this group, but may struggle to compete with the world’s best, a task their faced with here.
So, in front of a ginormous crowd at Stadium Australia, will the Matildas pick up three points?
Australia team news
When discussing Australia, one must always mention Sam Kerr, given that she’s scored 63 goals in just 121 caps, five of which came at the 2019 World Cup.
20 year old Mary Fowler, who was the match-winner against France last Friday night, is likely to partner Kerr in attack, chosen over Arsenal’s Caitlin Foord.
In goal, Mackenzie Arnold will get the nod, with veteran Lydia Williams, who has over 100 caps to her name, left out.
To summarise, Tony Gustavsson could name an unchanged line-up from the one that started that recent friendly.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Arnold; Carpenter, Hunt, Kennedy, Catley; Cooney-Cross, Gorry, Raso, Vine; Fowler, Kerr.
Republic of Ireland teams news
Vera Pauw’s team will line-up in a pretty defensive 5-4-1 which, given that their next fixture is against Canada, is certainly the right approach to start.
Captain Katie McCabe suffered an ankle injury against France two weeks ago, but will be fit and ready to go.
Winger Sinead Farrelly, who only switched allegiance from USA to Ireland earlier this year, making her debut against the country of her birth in April, will get the nod out wide.
In fact, the entire front three will be American-born, with Marissa Sheva also hoping to support lone striker Kyra Carusa.
Predicted XI (5-4-1): Brosnan; Payne, Connolly, Quinn, Fahey, McCabe; Farrelly, O’Sullivan, Littlejohn, Sheva; Carusa.
Women’s World Cup Group B table
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Women’s World Cup Group B fixtures
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