The Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba will be hosting the group B clash between Chile and Australia, a hot and sticky, almost entropic cauldron of noise, colour and humidity. Not that either team will balk at the heat, Chile and Australia both having searing hot summers and mild to normal winters for the most part.
Ange Postecoglou, the Australian team manager has total faith in his charges, revealing that while he has been working on them physically, he has been preparing them mentally too. For him its all about confidence, and believes that the more teams they can tuck away, the more that confidence will grow in the squad. A lot of the socceroos are more ?soccer joeys? with most of the squad never having seen action on the international scene at all, let alone at an event the magnitude of the World Cup.
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Chile have some serious talent on display, with Alexis Sanchez of Barcelona fame the most notable name on the teamsheet. The Chilean team is set up to go for the jugular of any team it encounters, and is expected by many to thrash the roos tonight; however Postecoglou is quoted as saying ?Our biggest weapon is our belief, and that?s what has made us the dark horses of the tournament. Chile play with much the same belief, and teams that believe in themselves are always the toughest to break down?. Brave words, considering the lineup Chile have with stars such as Sanchez, Beausejour, Paredes, Jara and Medel.
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On the pitch, Arturo Vidal is unlikely to run 90 minutes for Chile, following a knee operation with Mike Jedinak of Crystal Palace expected to be one of Australia?s main attacking threats. Chile are usually set up to attack hard and fast, but that brings its own headache with many teams able to counter just as hard and fast. The Roos have a seemingly ironclad belief in their own destiny, and this coupled with the formidable Tim Cahill of Chelsea towering over Chile?s small-statured defence means that they are not to be taken lightly, especially in the set piece department where Cahill will be looking to feast on any high ball into the six yard area.
Chile are favourites to win this game, given that they are playing on their home continent, although the Roos are touted as being able to test them to the limits. A tough group for all within it, Group B includes The Netherlands, Chile, Spain and the unfortunately wet behind the ears Australia, with many of their unique premier league talent that saw them through to the last World Cup?s round of 16 having moved on, to be replaced by 17 youngsters with barely any experience of international football.
However wet behind the ears they may be, Australia will play with the heart, determination and true grit and sheer strength that has endeared them to the football world over many years. The Aussies will not let Chile simply run away with it, and this encounter promises to be a real face puller, if only Postecoglou?s words ring true and their belief in themselves holds out against the attacking melange of Sanchez and co this evening.
Odds Comparison:
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| Chile | 1.50 | 1.48 | 1.49 | 1.48 | 1.50 | 1.44 |
| Draw | 4.00 | 4.25 | 4.25 | 4.25 | 4.00 | 4.20 |
| Australia | 8.50 | 7.00 | 6.75 | 7.00 | 8.00 | 9.00 |
All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update