Australia will take on China in the 3rd and final round of the Asian 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on Thursday.
Australia and China are placed in Group B. The other members who will be vying to finish in top two for direct qualification in the World Cup 2022, are Japan, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Vietnam. The third spot side will go for play-off.
Venue: Khalifa International Stadium, Doha.
Key statistics
- China (FIFA Ranking 71) have won their last five games across all competitions.
- Australia (FIFA Ranking 35) have won their last eight games across all competitions.
Head ro Head
These two sides have met 17 times in the past (China 8 wins, Australia 7 wins, Draw in 2 matches).
Australia scored 30 goals in 17 matches, against 33 by Chinese side.
Latest Performances
Australia: W-W-W-W-W-W (Goals for:20 and Goals against:2)
China: L-W-W-W-W-W (Goals for:19 and Goals against:2)
Australia
The hosts are coming into this game on the back of four convincing wins over the likes of Kuwait, Chinese Taipei, Nepal and Jordan.
They will certainly fancy their chances against the Chinese this week.
The last time these two sides met back in 2015, Australia managed to pick up a 2-0 win.
Manager Graham Reynold called up 27 players for the matches in October’21 against China and Vietnam.
Possible Australia Starting Line-ups
Matthew Ryan (GK); Aziz Behich, Trent Sainsbury, Harry Souttar, Ryan Strain; Aaron Mooy, Tom Rogic, Jackson Irvine; Adam Taggart, Martin Boyle, Awer Mabil
China
The visitors are coming into this game on the back of four consecutive wins against Guam, Philippines, Maldives and Syria.
They have a reasonably good head to head record against the Australians and China will fancy their chances of picking up a win here.
The Chinese have managed to win two of the last three matches against Australia.
Possible China Starting Line-ups
Yan Junling (GK); Zhang Linpeng, Yu Dabao, Gao Zhunyi, Zheng Zheng; Hao Junmin, Chi Zhongguo, Wu Xi; Wu Lei, Zhang Yuning, Elkeson
Probability
Australia Win : Draw : China Win :: 56% : 24% : 20%
Prediction
Both teams are capable of picking up a win here and this should be a closely fought encounter. The two sides are likely to cancel each other out eventually. A draw seems like a probable result here.
Australia 1-1 China
