FIFA WORLD CUP 2018 –Australia vs Peru PREVIEW
This is a game where there’s very little hope for one side, while the other are already eliminated. Australia can still advance if they can win and Denmark lose, but Peru are officially out. Both sides have been very unlucky to not pick up more at the world cup and at this game we can expect both to leave it their all. Australia must still believe while Peru will be looking to pick up a first world cup since 1978 so there won’t be any rest regardless their situation.
AUSTRALIA
Australia are coming into this game with a glimmer of hope. They’ve been unlucky so far in this tournament. In the first game they lost 2-1 to France after a freak own goal late and then they drew 1-1 with Denmark in a game where they totally dominated, created more chances but couldn’t take the win. Had Australia taken their chances, we probably look at this game as where a win takes them to R16. However, a win might not even be enough here given the fact that Denmark have a match against a sluggish French who already qualified. Australia simply have to believe that they can get a favour from France. Any win for Australia in this game would put them into second place but if Denmark lose to France, anything else than that scenario eliminates Australia. Looking at the way Australia performed, the players that stood out so far have to be Captain Jedinak (scorer of both of their goals), Aaron Mooy has been very good from set pieces and then the most impressive player personally has to be Leckie, his energy, hard work tracking back and going forward has been fantastic. Defensively Australia so have shown good organisation too. Only weakness about Australian performances so far has to be their finishing, they lack a goal scoring striker as Nabbout hasn’t been very involved so far and hasn’t scored. Other than two Jedinak penalties, Australia have not scored goals.
Now Australia face their final opponent in the group stages and quite possibly the world cup in general. Peru are a threat going forward so defensively Australia have to keep the same discipline they’ve shown throughout the tournament. Peru do have lots of pace, but we’ve seen how Australia can deal with that when they faced France, really making them work hard to score. Going forward, somebody has to score, they can’t keep relying on winning penalties to score goals. Nabbout and Rogic need to perform better, maybe we’ll see the legendary Tim Cahill come on who loves to score. Set pieces have been one of the main strengths of Australian play, if Mooy’s deliveries are on point they can punish Peru like that too. Australia simply have to believe they can still advance. They’ve performed well enough to be a R16 side, if they can put in a similar performance they have against France and Denmark then there’s no reason why they can’t win. Somebody has to deliver that quality in the final third.
PERU
It has been a very unlucky tournament for Peru. Considering the way they have played, you honestly wouldn’t think they are eliminated. Two 1-0 defeats to France and Denmark has already eliminated Peru, but let’s not underestimate them going into the last game because with the support that they have behind them they will definitely go for the win and try to give their fans a world cup memory. Peru have outplayed both Denmark and France if we’re being honest, but the inability to take their chances has cost them. A missed penalty against Denmark, a missed one on one by Guerrero against France, just to name a few great opportunities they’ve had. They have shown good footballing ability in the tournament, quick players like Carillo, Flores, Cueva looked good, but unfortunately Peru just couldn’t find the final touch even their legendary striker Guerrero wasted chances. Peru will be playing for pride in this last game.
Now they might be out of the tournament, but Peru will look to spoil the tournament for Australia. Peru are still favoured to win this game which is understandable. Talent wise Peru are better than Australia, but Australia will make them work hard. Don’t believe for a second that Peru will just give this game up because they haven’t won a world cup game since 1978 which is a streak they will aim to end. This group of players are very talented and have enough passion to just not give game up just because they’re out. Peru need to use their quickness to try and break down Australia defence and of course most importantly THEY HAVE TO TAKE THEIR CHANCES. Peru will get chances, but the way they’ve been finishing has been a worry. It’s been a long time since their last win, but maybe just they will end that disastrous streak? As long as they match the intensity of Australia and finish in the final third, Peru can dream of a win.
Prediction
It will be a very interesting game. Australia will put in a typical intense, hard working performance and will try to clamp Peru’s attack while trying to punish them from set pieces and long balls in. Meanwhile Peru will try to use their pace and creativity to break Australia down. Eventually, Australia will have to get forward because anything other than a win means elimination which could make it an open game for Peru. Peru are coming into this game with a mentality of “we have nothing to lose”. Peru will play with no pressure and that is a good advantage to have. Peru are not the type of team to give up a game to an opponent because they’re out because the players know they might not play another world cup again and they have an opportunity to end this awful 40 year streak of no wins at the world cup. Australia will make Peru work hard, but essentially we do trust Peru to come through and score some goals. Peru have the better team and we believe that Peru will win 2-1.
Group Standings
1 France 6 pts +2 GD
2 Denmark 4 pts +1 GD
3 Australia 1 pt -1 GD
4 Peru 0 pts -2 GD
ODDS – Decimal (WilliamHill)
Australia Win – 2.87
Draw – 3.30
Peru Win – 2.40
KICK OFF – 26th June 2018 – 3pm UK Time
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