Asian Cup hosts Australia to raise curtain in style against Kuwait

Australia, 11/4 second-favourites with Coral to lift the Asian Cup, have the chance to excite home fans in this tournament opener as they host the continent’s top competition for the first time in their history.

Once the festivities have ended, Ange Postecoglou’s men will face Group A opponents Kuwait, against who it is imperative for the Socceroos to secure a win and grab as many points as possible before facing foes South Korea.

Ambitious Australia, who were runners-up in the last edition of the Asian Cup in 2011, are odds-on favourites at 1/4 to taste victory in this opening encounter.

Former Everton attacker Tim Cahill is even more important for his nation than he was for the Toffees, and recently spearheaded a spirited Socceroos side at the World Cup.

In Brazil, Cahill, Australia’s all-time top scorer, smashed in a screamer and will be his country’s main goal threat again, supported by Bundesliga-based forwards Mathew Leckie and Robbie Kruse.

Without talismanic Cahill, the Socceroos’ younger strikers have often looked adrift but, with the ex-Premier League star back where he belongs, the hosts are 13/8 to net three or more.

Cahill himself is 7/5 in the anytime market to add to his catalogue of impressive international strikes, or 4/1 to fire home first.

Leckie, tipped to eventually step in to Cahill’s shoes as top attacking threat when the veteran retires, is 2/1 to net anytime, whilst Socceroos and Crystal Palace skipper Mile Jedinak is 11/2 to grab the last goal.