Denmark vs Australia
Group C is back on Thursday and there’s a ‘do or die’ clash at the Samara Arena as we get ready for Denmark vs Australia in a game the Aussies simply must win.
Defeat to France in the opener was a cruel blow for Australia, while Denmark rode their luck to take three points from Peru, so they are sitting pretty. It all adds up to a cracking contest, and you can join in the drama and get the Denmark-Australia updates right here at SBOBET.
Talking Points
The brand new Samara Arena went well over budget and raised fears it wouldn’t be ready for the World Cup, hosting its first friendly game as late as April. But it’s ready, and we’re here to enjoy what should be a hard-fought encounter.
Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel is a key man in the Denmark team, having enjoyed another good season in the Premier League with Leicester City. He still holds out hope of following in his dad’s footsteps, former Manchester United goalie Peter Schmeichel who was in the great Denmark side that won the European Championships in 1992.
Any team with Kasper between the sticks is hard to beat as he showed against Peru, making three superb saves.
Most of Denmark’s attacks flow through their talisman, Christian Eriksen. The Spurs man was involved in 56 percent of his side’s goals in qualifying, scoring 11 and making three.
Eriksen weighted a beautiful pass for Yussuf Poulsen who scored the only goal in Denmark’s opening match win over Peru—eventually putting Age Hareide’s side in excellent shape to qualify from the group.
Australia lost their first game in Group C in controversial circumstances. While we backed France in our SBOBET predictions to win this group, Australia were unlucky to lose against Les Bleus in their opener.
Not only was Antoine Griezmann’s penalty disputed, but Paul Pogba’s late winner also needed a huge slice of luck. But that’s the way football games are decided. Even the great Leo Messi missed a spot-kick for Argentina, allowing Iceland to snatch a draw.
So has Bert van Marwijk’s team already had its fair share of bad luck? That’s not the way it works, I’m afraid.
Football fans like to think that luck and bad decisions even themselves out over a season…but they don’t. What Australia’s opening match experience may do though is to put more fire in the Socceroos’ bellies. That sense of injustice might just spur them on to greater heights.
Defensive midfielder Mile Jedinak epitomises Australia’s spirit. The 33-year-old planted home a penalty against the French and urged his team to fight on after he had been infuriated by France’s opener, saying France’s VAR-awarded penalty was one of the strangest decisions he’s witnessed in a long career.
Soon they will fight and with no little quality. In goal, Brighton’s Mathew Ryan was impressive in the opener and is getting better every game. And Huddersfield Town’s Aaron Mooy can be a real threat, with a direct style and a good delivery.
History
Denmark’s best effort at the World Cup finals was a quarter-final place back in 1998 when they lost in a five-goal thriller to Brazil. But their biggest triumph of all was that 1992 European Championship.
Age Hareide guided his current crop to the finals, coming second in their group behind Poland and then hammering Ireland in the playoffs.
Australia’s best effort in the World Cup was a last 16 appearance back in 2006, and it will take a Herculean effort to do that again this year. They made it through to Russia in a tense playoff against Honduras, but they must beat Denmark now if they are to stick around.
These two teams have met three times before, Australia winning one to Denmark’s two, the last being a 2-0 Danish victory in a 2012 friendly.
What are the odds?
So which way is this one going to go? Look at the odds and you’d have to say Denmark’s way, but it’s unlikely to be a walk in the park.
At 1.95, the Danes are just odds on to take all three points, with Australia out at 4.00 and the draw available at 3.25.
We’ll give you the best choice of all the Denmark-Australia betting odds to make it an exciting match all round.
We’re expecting a tight game with a one-goal margin, and the handicap odds are 1.95 for Denmark to win with a –0.50 goal handicap. Australia, meanwhile, are at 1.98 with the half-goal advantage.
It won’t be easy for the Socceroos to breach Denmark’s defence and then to beat Schmeichel, so you can get odds of 2.03 on Australia achieving over 0.75 goals in the first half (with under 0.75 at 1.85).
Denmark are at 1.17 to qualify from the Group C with Australia not yet out of it at 5.50, but lose in Samara and it’s as good as curtains for Bert and his boys.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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