Australia and South Korea to make it two triumphs on trot

The Blue, meanwhile, will need to be bolder and their Asian Cup fate rests squarely in the hands of new boss Nabil Maaloul, with a dose of adventure and abandon the order of the day.

At 6/1 to steal a surprise scalp, Kuwait need to be brave and risk defeat to save their chances of qualification. The Blue must start brightest attacking talents Aziz Mashaan (5/1 to score anytime), who provided the assist for his nation’s only goal against Australia, and tricky attackers Yousef Nasser(10/3) and Bader Al-Mutawa(10/3).

The potent pair of Nasser and Al-Mutawa were only used as substitutes against the Socceroos, but should start if the Blue are to have any chance of troubling South Korea’s backline.

Oman v Australia
Australia and Oman have only met four times before, and the Socceroos have emerged as victors from three of those four battles, which makes them odds-on 4/11 favourites to defeat them again.

Ex-Rangers coach Paul Le Guen’s men are certainly a sturdier outfit than Kuwait, having shut out South Korea until just before the break and almost equalising late on in the game, so should provide the hosts with a sterner test.

The Persian Gulf nation are 6/1 to win, or 13/2 to keep a clean sheet with Wigan Athletic-owned custodian and Oman skipper Ali Al-Habsi protecting the posts. After failing to cling on to South Korea star Koo’s shot last time out, the keeper has a point to prove.

However, the Socceroos’ strikepower and strength should see them through yet again. The quartet of ex-Everton man and main goal threat Tim Cahill (4/1 to score first again), Germany-based talents Mathew Leckie (7/4 to net anytime) and Robbie Kruse (6/5), plus Swindon Town midfielder Massimo Luongo (11/4) dazzled last time out, and should prove too much for Oman to handle.