Chile is being considered the dark horses entering the tournament and is fielding its best team to compete for the coveted title. One must not forget the 2-0 bruising Chile gave to Roy Hodgson’s England team in November last year. On an attacking front they are potent but when it comes to converting chances into goals they fail miserably. Star midfielder Arturo Vidal’s absence may be a cause of concern as he likely to miss the game. On the other side, Australia is drawn into one of the toughest groups this time around and they will face a determined Chilean side with only a few experienced figures in the team, Tim Cahill being the stand-alone player.
Top Players to look out for:
Alexis Sanchez and Eduardo Vargas are ones to look for considering the fact that Chile are an attacking team. Sanchez has had his best season so far scoring 21 goals for Barcelona and will set the pace for Chilean offense. Gary Medel will be another player to look out for for his defensive tactics. At 34, also the all-time top scorer for Australia, Tim Cahill, the former Everton player will be a key player in the clash as he will be most expected to score goals for the Aussies. Mat Ryan, the 22 year old youngster will be another player to watch out for as he will be tested for all his grit by the unrelenting Chilean attack. Mile Jedinak, midfielder for the Premier League side Crystal Palace will be another prospect to look for. It remains to be seen what he can conjure up from his consistent League appearances.
Teams head to head:
The two teams have played four games between them, of which Chile have won in three and the other game ended in a draw. Chile has a goal tally of 6 against Australia’s 1.
Prediction:
Chile is an attacking team and their football would be a treat to watch. Judging by their qualifiers form where they ended up just three points behind Argentina, they are the favorites to win the match against the marginally experienced Australia.
Final Score Prediction: Chile 4 – 2 Australia.
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