Australia v Spain Predictions & Betting Odds – World Cup 2014

Spain to avoid bottom spot in Group A

Australia v Spain
Australia v Spain

Australia v Spain World Cup 2014, 23rd June Betting Preview

Well this is just going to be a dead rubber. Not many punters will have predicted that ahead of the tournament. Back to back defeats for both have left them floundering and it is Spain who go into this one needing a win to avoid the embarrassment of finishing bottom of the group. Can the Australians build on their hugely positive game against Holland?

Australia v Spain Betting Tips

This will be the first meeting between the two sides. Shame it is going to be a non-event. What usually happens in matches like this, is the squad gets utilised and you don’t see the strongest startling eleven. Spain, who have never lost all three matches in the group stage of the World Cup before, became the fifth reigning champions to be knocked out of the group stage at a World Cup. Their defence has fallen apart, not helped by keeper Iker Casillas not looking very sharp, and to sum it all up, Spain won Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 and conceded just six goals in all three tournaments. That is one less than they have suffered in their two games at Brazil 2014.

Vicente del Bosque will likely dump his old guard in this one and look to move forward and go out with a bang from his younger players. Spain just lacked clinical conviction in the final third and the experiment with Diego Costa didn’t work, the Atletico Madrid man just didn’t look to fit into the team at all, and he didn’t manage a shot on target against either Holland or Chile, and only produced five shots in total. It wasn’t impressive, but he is running as 4/5 favourite in the anytime goalscorer market. When they won the World Cup four years ago, they averaged 24 shots per game. They have produced just ten per game so far. It tells a tale, but it is their midfield and defensive collapses against Chile and Holland which has been the main cause of their decline.

Australia only need to grab themselves a draw in this one and they will avoid finishing bottom. They showed tremendous character against Holland, but they couldn’t hold onto their 2-1 lead, falling to a 3-2 defeat in the end. Still, they showed tremendous fight and that could go far against Spain. However, Australia will be without their main man Tim Cahill, who has scored five of Australia’s eleven World Cup goals. It was Cahill who produced one of the goals of the tournament against Holland. They may struggle up front without him though. They have after all only won one of their last seven World Cup match against European opponents.

Australia v Spain Betting Odds

Spain 2/5, Draw 4/1, Australia 6/1

Online betting site Skybet are running a promotion for this match. Bet a minimum of £5 on the game and if Spain fail to beat Australia, you will get your lost stake refunded on losing First Goalscorer, Last goalscorer, Correct Score and Scorecast singles up to £25.

Australia v Spain Predictions

It’ll be interesting to watch, just to see if Del Bosque looks towards the next generation of Spanish football. Hopefully he does, because the old guard don’t have it any more. Australia, in missing Tim Cahill will likely struggle to finish any chances. So look for a Spanish win.