Australia will host Vietnam on Thursday for the seventh round of the Asia World Cup qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Venue: AAMI Park (Melbourne)
Key Statistics
Australia are unbeaten in each of the last nine matches they registered as the home team (W8, D1).
The Socceroos have failed to score in just one of the last nine games they played as the home team.
They are winless in their last three games.
Vietnam have failed to score in their last two away games.
They have kept two clean sheets in their last two away games.
The visitors have lost each of their World Cup qualifier (WCQ) games in this campaign, conceding 12 goals and scoring just four.
Head to head
Both teams have met just once in the competition and Australia won that game 1-0.
Latest performances in all competitions
Australia: D-D-L-W-W
Vietnam: D-L-W-D-W
Austalia
Australia will welcome Vietnam to the AAMI Park in Melbourne for their third stage seventh-round World Cup qualification match. Australia sit third in Group B behind Saudi Arabia in the first position (16 points) and Japan second (12 points).
The home team find themselves in a somewhat safe position with Oman in fourth position trailing them by a good four points after six rounds of football. Having secured back to victories in their first two matches, Australia have derailed and are currently on a three-match winless streak, losing first to Japan and then a draw against Saudi Arabia.
The Socceroos followed up that draw with Saudi Arabia with another disappointing 1-1 draw with China and now need to win all four of their remaining games to be guaranteed automatic qualification for the World Cup.
The hosts are the second-highest scoring side in group B with nine goals scored and four conceded. And so, with such a goal-scoring ratio, the home team will be full of optimism and confidence in securing a direct qualifying berth ahead of Japan.
Possible Australia starting line-ups
Matthew Ryan; Rhyan Grant, Trent Sainsbury, Milos Degenek, Aziz Behich; Ajdin Hrustic, Jackson Irvine, James Jeggo; Mathew Leckie, Matron Boyle, Mitchell Duke.
Injured: Eder Callum, Souttar Harry, Graham Arnold (coach)
Suspended: None
Vietnam
Vietnam have won none of their last six qualifying matches conceding twelve goals in the process. Going into round seven, they trail fifth-placed China by five points.
Vietnam are in a very precarious situation and risk missing out on the World Cup if they like Australia do not win their remaining four matches and hope that China, Japan, Oman and Australia lose all their remaining fixtures.
Given their recent form, Vietnam have to give it their all if there is going to be any hopes of qualification.
Possible Vietnam starting line-ups
Nguyen Tran; Dung Bui-Tein, Ngoc Que, Nguyen; Tai Ho-Tan, Quang Hai Nguyen, Hoang Duc Nguyen, Phong-Hong duy Nduyeng; Van Duc Phan, Chinh Duc Ha, Tien Linh Nguyen.
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Prediction
Australia 2-0 Vietnam
