- Recent form (Australia): Australia have won one, drawn two and lost two of their last five matches in all competitions, with a 0-0 draw away to Paraguay followed by a 2-0 loss to the USA in their last two.
- Recent form (Egypt): Egypt have won two, drawn two and lost one of their last five, with a 3-1 win away to New Zealand followed by a 1-1 draw with Belgium in their last two.
Transition vs structure is the theme
Australia and Egypt meet at Dallas Stadium on Friday in a game that could come down to whoever best navigates the midfield squeeze, with the two sides representing a clash of transition vs structure.
Australia setup
Tony Popovic has shaped Australia into a compact 4-3-3 side that looks to spring fast wide counters and press in bursts.
Egypt setup
Hossam Hassan, meanwhile, has Egypt set up in a defense-first 3-at-the-back shell that will sit in a low-to-mid block, while the two number 10s will look to break through the middle.
Egypt edge the form book
Egypt are definitely the team in better form with two wins, two draws and one defeat across their last five, while Australia have won once, drawn twice and lost twice across their most recent five.
- Egypt are the slight favorites for this game at 2.44, with Australia second in the odds at 3.54 and the draw at 3.1.
- That makes Hassan's side the play here, but there is enough value in the Under 2.5 goals and Both Teams to Score – No markets for us to prefer those options at 1.47 and 1.63, respectively.
Close encounter expected
A narrow Egypt win or a cagey draw looks the most likely outcome here, but 1-0 and 1-1 stand out as the sharpest angles.
Australia's pace on the break could well trouble an Egypt side that are congested in the centre of the field and patient on the ball. But Egypt have been more effective in the final third, so a cagey 1-1 tie looks like the best match result prediction.
