Group C of the World Cup wraps up play Tuesday from Russia with Australia-Peru and Denmark-France starting simultaneously. The Peruvians can only play spoiler in this match as they are eliminated. The Aussies would need a victory and a minor miracle regarding a huge Denmark loss to advance. Despite nothing to play for, Peru is a slight Mybookie Sportsbook favorite.
The Aussies opened the tournament with a 2-1 loss to France and then tied Denmark 1-1. Mile Jedinak scored the tying goal in the 38th minute on a penalty kick vs. Denmark. It came after a VAR review, which is new this tournament. It was Jedinak’s second goal of the tournament. The Aussies kept the same starting XI as in their first match.
“We had chances to win and we deserved to win, so I’m disappointed. I fully agree we should have won. Against France we also deserved more, I think. We have one point and we deserve four points from these two games,” Aussie coach Bert van Marwijk said following the Denmark draw.
Australia has failed to win any of their last five World Cup matches (D1 L4), their joint-longest winless run in the competition. The country has failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last 12 World Cup games, the longest current run in the competition alongside Saudi Arabia.
Jedinak’s penalty for Australia ended a run of nine hours and 31 minutes without conceding at international level for Danish goalie Kasper Schmeichel (571 minutes). Thirty-one percent of goals scored by Australia at the World Cup have come from the penalty spot (4 out of 13), the highest ratio among any of the teams to have scored at least 10 goals in the competition.
Aussie’s biggest-name player is Tim Cahill, and he apparently isn’t happy right now. Cahill will feel “frustrated” at being an unused substitute in Russia but there is no guarantee Australia’s World Cup hero will play in the must-win match against Peru, teammate Mark Milligan said on Friday. Van Marwijk snubbed the country’s most prolific goal scorer for the opening Group C matches against France and Denmark despite the team’s struggles in front of goal.
The lack of game-time afforded 38-year-old Cahill, who has scored five of his 50 international goals at three previous World Cups but barely played in the past six months, has stoked criticism from Australian fans and media.
“We’re not kidding ourselves, we are relying on someone else to get a result for us but we’ve got to go to the business ourselves,” Jedinak said of this match. “We know we’re going to have to leave everything out on that pitch. Together as one.”
The Aussies will be without forward Andrew Nabbout as he was ruled out of the match by Van Marwijk after suffering a shoulder injury in the draw against Denmark. Regular striker Tomi Juric, who came off the bench to replace Nabbout, declared himself fit to start after nursing a knee injury.
Juric on what kind of performance Australia should give against Peru: “Quite simple. To win. Continue playing the way we have, improve on that as well. Minimize mistakes and maximize our opportunities in front of goal.”
Peru is winless in their last eight World Cup matches (D2 L6), scoring just two goals in this run. Peru has now attempted 27 shots without scoring at the 2018 World Cup finals; only Morocco (28) have had more without a goal.
Midfielder Pedro Aquino had this to say following the loss to France: “Our team never went backward, we were always attacked.”
It’s not clear if Alberto Rodriguez will play here as he continues with the recovery of his injury suffered against Denmark, and Jefferson Farfan is still under observation due to the injury he suffered in training. Anderson Santamaria figures to be in the center of the defense in the starting XI.
Farfan was hospitalized with head trauma after a hard collision with a teammate during training on Saturday. Farfan was participating in a drill when he collided with one of the team’s goalkeepers and was taken to a local hospital for additional scans, according to a statement released by Peru’s football association. Farfan, who plays for Lokomotiv Moscow, started Peru’s Group C opener against Denmark but came on at half-time of the game against France.
Peru coach Ricardo Gareca put a brave face on his team’s premature World Cup exit, saying he was sorry for their huge army of traveling fans.
“The public was incredible and that is what really hurts, that we were unable to pay back this fervor, which the team awoke, and this multitude of people who followed us,” the Argentine said. “I said before the tournament that everyone would be surprised with their passion, and their love for the team. We will do the impossible to try and give them a goal or a win to celebrate in our final match [against Australia].”
Peru has had 27 shots so far at this World Cup but is yet to score a single goal. With Farfan not fully fit and Paolo Guerrero yet to score, Benfica winger Andre Carrillo is Peru’s best bet to get their first goal of these finals. If van Marwijk does consider a more attacking Australia lineup, Carrillo’s speed could be a ruthless weapon on the break.
Australia vs. Peru 2018 World Cup Odds & Group C Pick
👏🏼⚽🌏🏆😱 pic.twitter.com/4oQIv5WOzs
— TIM CAHILL (@Tim_Cahill) 25 de junio de 2018
- When: Tuesday, 10 AM ET
- Where: Fisht Stadium, Sochi, Russia
- 2018 World Cup Odds: Peru +160 / Australia +181 / Draw +205 (Total 2.5)
Why Bet on Australia?
- Confederation: AFC
- Head coach: Bert van Marwijk
- Captain: Mile Jedinak
- FIFA Ranking: 36
- World Cup Appearances: 5
The Aussies opened the tournament with a 2-1 loss to France and then tied Denmark 1-1. Mile Jedinak scored the tying goal in the 38th minute on a penalty kick vs. Denmark. It came after a VAR review, which is new this tournament. It was Jedinak’s second goal of the tournament. The Aussies kept the same starting XI as in their first match.
“We had chances to win and we deserved to win, so I’m disappointed. I fully agree we should have won. Against France we also deserved more, I think. We have one point and we deserve four points from these two games,” Aussie coach Bert van Marwijk said following the Denmark draw.
Australia has failed to win any of their last five World Cup matches (D1 L4), their joint-longest winless run in the competition. The country has failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last 12 World Cup games, the longest current run in the competition alongside Saudi Arabia.
Jedinak’s penalty for Australia ended a run of nine hours and 31 minutes without conceding at international level for Danish goalie Kasper Schmeichel (571 minutes). Thirty-one percent of goals scored by Australia at the World Cup have come from the penalty spot (4 out of 13), the highest ratio among any of the teams to have scored at least 10 goals in the competition.
Aussie’s biggest-name player is Tim Cahill, and he apparently isn’t happy right now. Cahill will feel “frustrated” at being an unused substitute in Russia but there is no guarantee Australia’s World Cup hero will play in the must-win match against Peru, teammate Mark Milligan said on Friday. Van Marwijk snubbed the country’s most prolific goal scorer for the opening Group C matches against France and Denmark despite the team’s struggles in front of goal.
The lack of game-time afforded 38-year-old Cahill, who has scored five of his 50 international goals at three previous World Cups but barely played in the past six months, has stoked criticism from Australian fans and media.
“We’re not kidding ourselves, we are relying on someone else to get a result for us but we’ve got to go to the business ourselves,” Jedinak said of this match. “We know we’re going to have to leave everything out on that pitch. Together as one.”
The Aussies will be without forward Andrew Nabbout as he was ruled out of the match by Van Marwijk after suffering a shoulder injury in the draw against Denmark. Regular striker Tomi Juric, who came off the bench to replace Nabbout, declared himself fit to start after nursing a knee injury.
Juric on what kind of performance Australia should give against Peru: “Quite simple. To win. Continue playing the way we have, improve on that as well. Minimize mistakes and maximize our opportunities in front of goal.”
Projected Line-Up
- 1-M. Ryan
- 16-A. Behich
- 20-T. Sainsbury
- 19-J. Risdon
- 5-M. Milligan
- 15-M. Jedinak
- 7-M. Leckie
- 13-A. Mooy
- 23-T. Rogić
- 11-A. Nabbout
- 10-R. Kruse
Why Bet on Peru?
- Confederation: CONMBEOL
- Head coach: Ricardo Gareca
- Captain: Paolo Guerrero
- FIFA Ranking: 11
- World Cup Appearances: 5
Peru is winless in their last eight World Cup matches (D2 L6), scoring just two goals in this run. Peru has now attempted 27 shots without scoring at the 2018 World Cup finals; only Morocco (28) have had more without a goal.
Midfielder Pedro Aquino had this to say following the loss to France: “Our team never went backward, we were always attacked.”
It’s not clear if Alberto Rodriguez will play here as he continues with the recovery of his injury suffered against Denmark, and Jefferson Farfan is still under observation due to the injury he suffered in training. Anderson Santamaria figures to be in the center of the defense in the starting XI.
Farfan was hospitalized with head trauma after a hard collision with a teammate during training on Saturday. Farfan was participating in a drill when he collided with one of the team’s goalkeepers and was taken to a local hospital for additional scans, according to a statement released by Peru’s football association. Farfan, who plays for Lokomotiv Moscow, started Peru’s Group C opener against Denmark but came on at half-time of the game against France.
Peru coach Ricardo Gareca put a brave face on his team’s premature World Cup exit, saying he was sorry for their huge army of traveling fans.
“The public was incredible and that is what really hurts, that we were unable to pay back this fervor, which the team awoke, and this multitude of people who followed us,” the Argentine said. “I said before the tournament that everyone would be surprised with their passion, and their love for the team. We will do the impossible to try and give them a goal or a win to celebrate in our final match [against Australia].”
Peru has had 27 shots so far at this World Cup but is yet to score a single goal. With Farfan not fully fit and Paolo Guerrero yet to score, Benfica winger Andre Carrillo is Peru’s best bet to get their first goal of these finals. If van Marwijk does consider a more attacking Australia lineup, Carrillo’s speed could be a ruthless weapon on the break.
Projected Line-Up
- 1-P. Gallese
- 2-A. Rodríguez
- 15-C. Ramos
- 17-L. Advíncula
- 6-M. Trauco
- 19-Y. Yotún
- 8-C. Cueva
- 23-P. Aquino
- 20-É. Flores
- 9-P. Guerrero
- 18-A. Carrillo
