China vs Australia

Australia cannot afford a slip-up at the Sharjah Stadium as they take on out-of-form China in a seemingly must-win World Cup qualifying fixture.

China’s wait for their first World Cup finals since 2002 is likely to be extended for another five years following a dismal Group B campaign thus far (W1, D1, L3). A heartbreaking 1-1 home draw with Oman last time out left China five points adrift of the play-off spot, meaning another failed attempt to land all three points here could kick them out of the qualification race. The ‘Dragon’s Team’ have blown hot and cold at home in their third-round home matches (W1, D1, L1), failing to keep a clean sheet each time. Li Tie’s men have lost their last two encounters against Australia by 2+ goals ‘to nil,’ which pretty much explains their underdog status in this showdown, falling to a 3-0 defeat in the reverse fixture in September.

As for Australia, after going from three consecutive Group B victories to back-to-back World Cup qualifiers without winning (D1, L1), their chances of reaching next year’s tournament have been compromised. Australia’s dip in form has allowed third-placed Japan to whittle down the gap to a single point, putting the ‘Socceroos’ in a must-win position going into this matchday. Before going down in Japan in their most recent World Cup qualifying away match (1-2), Australia had won five consecutive road trips in the competition, keeping four clean sheets in the process. Topically, they have registered a shutout in all three previous match-ups against China on foreign soil (W2, D1). With three of Australia’s last four away internationals ending separating the sides by a single goal (W3, L1), they could be in for a tight, keenly-contested affair in Sharjah.

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