Australia vs Egypt Predictions

• Egypt have lost only two of their last 15 games in 90 minutes
• Australia hit only 11 shots on target in three group stage games
• Australia have won just three of their last ten games

Australia and Egypt will have to go down as surprise runners at the last-16 stage of the World Cup, but one of the unfancied nations will progress to an Atlanta tie with either Argentina or Cape Verde. 

The nations ended the group stage as 250-1 chances to lift the trophy, but Egypt are clear favourites to win the game in 90 minutes. 

The Pharaohs have the star quality with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush in attack and that duo took Egypt to draws against Belgium and Iran and a victory over New Zealand in the group stage. 

New Zealand can be considered as one of the weakest nations competing in North America and it was no surprise that Hossam Hassan’s men cruised past the Kiwis with a 3-1 success. 

The Pharaohs hit 14 efforts on goal, seven corners and recorded 46 per cent possession in their opening World Cup contest against a strong Belgium side and that effort rates as superior form to the victory over the All Whites. 

Socceroos lacking attacking quality

Australia stunned Turkey 2-0 in their first group stage game, before losing to the USA and picking up a point against Paraguay. 

The win against the Crescent Stars was enough to put the Socceroos in a strong position, but it was a pretty fortunate success in which Tony Popovic’s side conceded a whopping 30 shots on goal and eight corners. 

The Aussies created an expected goals total of only 0.35 in their 2-0 loss to the Stars and Stripes and it was just 0.55 in the 0-0 stalemate with Paraguay. 

Nestory Irankunda is a talented young forward, but there isn’t a great deal of creativity elsewhere, and if Australia are creating as few chances as they did against the USA and Paraguay, while allowing as many in their 2-0 win over Turkey, Egypt do have the attacking quality to punish the Socceroos. 

Star duo set to shine

Salah was withdrawn early in Egypt’s 1-1 draw with Iran, while Marmoush started the game from the bench. That should ensure that the Pharaohs’ star forwards are fresh for the knockout rounds and the Premier League duo had previously been the most impressive performers on the pitch in the 3-1 success over New Zealand. 

Egypt have the ability to keep things tight at the back, but with explosive quality in attack and that looks the difference between the two teams. 

The Pharaohs look set to rule in Arlington.