ITALY v AUSTRALIA - MATCH PREVIEW

Mark Viduka is 10/3 to score at anytime with Coral. Australia are 11/2 to beat Italy in 90 minutes with Coral and Viduka to score first and Australia to win 2-1 is a massive 48/1. Many more selections available at Coral.

Head to Heads: Never net before

Italy - 1st, Group E

Group Statistics: W2 D1 L0 F5 A1 Pts7
Top Scorers: Simone Barone, Alberton Gilardino, Vincenzo Iaquinta, Filippo Inzaghi and Andrea Pirlo, 1 (20% of Italy's goals each)
Clean Sheets: 2
Failed to Score: 0
Best World Cup record: Winners three times, 1934, 1938 and 1982
2002 World Cup Record: Lost in Second Round to South Korea
Overall World Cup statistics: World Cups, 16 P73 W41 D14 L18 F112 A73
Interesting Stat: After Brazil, Italy have committed the least number of fouls so far (thirty-seven)

Australia - 2nd, Group F

Group Statistics: W1 D1 L1 F5 A5 Pts4
Top Scorer: Tim Cahill, 2 (40% of Australia's goals)
Clean Sheets: 0
Failed to Score: 1
Best World Cup record: 2006 campaign. Only other appearance was in 1974 where they finished fourth in Group One
2002 World Cup Record: Did not qualify
Overall World Cup statistics: World Cups, 2 P6 W1 D2 L3 F5 A10
Interesting Stat: Australia are the only side in the last-sixteen not to have kept a clean sheet in the competition so far.

Match Preview

Perennial favourites Italy face a euphoric Australia in Kaiserslauten with the Antipodean side still trying to come down from the ecstacy that greeted Graham Poll's final whistle against Croatia in mid-week.

This is likely to be Graham Poll's final ever whistle in a World Cup after he presided over a farcical match that resulted in three players being sent off, including Josip Sinunic who receieved an unprecedented three yellow cards.

That game was one of the most energetic of the tournament so far and the fear is that that emotional struggle may have taken too much out of the Australian players. This is combined with the high of Australia reaching their first ever knock-out stages after expectation back home was so high. This game against Italy therefore may be too exhilirating for them.

Italy will be missing talismanic defender Alessandro Nesta for this clash due to a thigh injury he picked up in their closing group game against the Czech Republic. This is a big blow for the Italians as Nesta has been a mainstay over the last ten years and has seventy-seven caps to his name. Nesta's loss is Marco Materazzi's gain who will be rewarded for his fine performance against the Czech Republic, which included scoring the opening goal, by retaining his berth in the centre of defence.

With twenty-eight caps the Inter Milan centre-back is sufficiently experienced to be able to deal with the Australian frontline. Whether he can marshall the defence as well as Nesta does remain to be seen however but with Juventus' Fabio Cannavaro likely to partner him the Italian defence will undoubtedly remain solid. A clean sheet against the Czechs bodes well for similar success against the Australians.

After a calamatous performance in goal, Australian keeper Zejko Kalac is likely to be replaced by Middlesbrough's number one Mark Schwarzer. Croatia's second goal was a long-range shot that bounced over his body and Australian coach Guus Hiddink knows that in this game he can't afford to take any risks.

Schwarzer was dropped to recuperate rather than through any injury concern and they will need him to play well in a defence that has yet to keep a clean sheet in this competition. Kalac's performance was interesting considering he has more caps than Schwarzer and also plays for a bigger club (AC Milan). It just goes to show how much Schwarzer has developed into a top-class keeper in recent years and how badly they suffer without his marshalling from the goal-line.

Blackburn's Brett Emerton is suspended after being sent off by Graham Poll in his red-card spree at the end of the game against Croatia. Hiddink has to choose between Mark Milligan and Jason Culina to replace him on the right side of midfield. His choice will be indicative on Hiddink's strategy for winning this game. Culina is an attacking midfielder who has experience playing at the highest level for PSV Eindhoven. He has also played for Ajax and with sixteen caps to his name, including starts in all three of Australia's World Cup matches so far, he has greater experience than Milligan. He likes to make bombing runs into the final third and if he is unleashed can provide the final pass into the Australian strikers. He can also play as a striker himself and so has an acute understanding of the service that Kewell and Viduka will desire.

Milligan meanwhile is a defender so his placing in the right-midfield berth would suggest a policy of containment rather than attack. He is a natural right-back however so he is used to playing on that wing. This may place him as slight favourite over Culina. He has inexperienced, with only one cap to his name and is one of only two players to play in the Australian League. Whether it is wise to put an inexperienced twenty year old into a match of such importance is debateable but he does have composure on the ball and his pace could damage the Italians.

The only other concern is with Harry Kewell who is struggling to be fit after a groin injury. Australia will be significantly weakened without the Liverpool man who is argubaly their major world-class player. With seven goals in twenty-three appearances, the striker who can also play in midfield will be looking to break an Italian defence that has only conceded one goal so far. His participation therefore is vital and the onus will be on him and Mark Viduka to bag the goals that will take them on to victory. Meanwhile Parma midfielders Marco Bresciano and Vince Grella will be looking to make an impact against the country in which they play their club football.

For Italy Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi is suspended after his elbowing incident in the bad-tempered game against the USA. He missed the game against the Czechs and his loss is not likley to be overly significant, particularly as FIFA have slapped a four match ban on him.

Italy are not underestimating the power of the Australians, particularly because their manager Guus Hiddink was in charge of the South Korea that knocked them out of the World Cup four years ago. They are prepared to be worked hard by a combatitive and wide Australian side and believe that early focus may be the key to winning the game. Citing that the Australians are similar to the Americans, with whom they drew 1-1, the Italians are expecting a tough game. They believe that keeping Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka quiet is the key to the game, which is why Nesta's absence could be so significant.

Australia meanwhile are warning that the Italians should not underestimate them, urging that they respect the Italians and the Italians should respect them. They scared Brazil before ultimately losing 2-0 to them and believe that they can get something positive out of this one. It is difficult to predict however but Australia's porous defence may just cost them. An early goal for Italy will result in the Australians needing to come out and here Italy can swiftly hit them on the break. Expect a 2-0 Italian win.

Mark Viduka is 10/3 to score at anytime with Coral. Australia are 11/2 to beat Italy in 90 minutes with Coral and Viduka to score first and Australia to win 2-1 is a massive 48/1. Many more selections available at Coral.

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