ITALY v AUSTRALIA - AUSSIES TO MUSCLE INTO LAST EIGHT
David John

Australia seem to have discovered a decent balance between aggression, enthusiasm, skill and tactical nous over the opening fortnight to suggest they are overpriced to see off Italy in the last 16 on Monday.

A spirited finish in their Group opener against Japan turned a 1-0 deficit into a 3-1 victory while the 2-0 defeat at the hands of Brazil could have turned out quite differently on another day.

Guus Hiddink's men were a genuine threat to the world champions as they pursued an equaliser and Fred's late strike gave the result a rather lopsided look.

In spite of Graham Poll's antics, they then booked their place in the knockout phase with a 2-2 draw against Croatia, twice coming from behind.

At 2-1 down, it always looked like as case of 'when' rather than 'if' the crucial equaliser would arrive.

The Socceroos have a really potent goal threat in Mark Viduka, Tim Cahill, John Aloisi and Harry Kewell. Kewell looked back to something like his best in the Croatia match.

That quartet will not have to cope with Azurri linchpin Alessandro Nesta either, who has been ruled out due to a groin strain.

Hiddink does have a headache in as much as he must scheme a way of overcoming the loss of suspended Brett Emerton.

But don't rule out the wily Dutchman hatching a plan.

That said, his notion of replacing Mark Shwarzer with Zeljko Kalac in goal backfired spectacularly.

He has seen sense though and the Middlesbrough cat is back as custodian.

They have tended to play down the physical side of the game they possess but Hiddink could also be encouraged to crank it up a notch in that department having seen the Italians rattled by the USA.

I am still trying to weigh up Marcello Lippi's side.

Clinically efficient against Ghana and the Czech Republic, they seemed unsettled when asked to mix it with the USA, their frustrations highlighted by Daniele De Rossi's ugly elbowing of Brian McBride.

So Hiddink is unlikely let them settle into a comfortable rhythm.

Italy's superior World Cup pedigree immediately shaves a fraction or two off their price and that makes them worth taking on in match which could easily find them out of their comfort zone.

The Australians also have what it takes up front to make them pay so back them at a tasty 7/2 to make the last eight.

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By Bettingzone.co.uk
Used with permission.