Football Tips: Kerr to shine in 16/1 Australia v Ireland Bet Builder
Australia to Win
Sam Kerr to Score Two or More
Both Teams to Score
Under 2.5 First Half Goals
A Bet Builder with these selections pays at approximately16/1with Paddy Power.
Thursday 11am: Australia (W) v Rep of Ireland (W)
Women’s World Cup, Group B
Stadium Australia, Sydney
TV: ITV, STV, RTE2
WE’RE ALL PART OF VERA’S ARMY. WE’RE ALL OFF TO DOWN UNDER. AND WE’LL REALLY SHAKE ‘EM UP WHEN HE WIN THE WORLD CUP, BUT IN REALITY… Sam Kerr’ll tear us asunder. A joyful ditty to start your day, folks – never fear.
It’s a lovely achievement for us to get to a World Cup and I’m very proud of it, but it’s worth talking about the fact that we can’t go to a major tournament without having some pre-football controversy.
I won’t open old wounds by talking about Saipan because that’s about as divisive in this country as the Civil War, but Denise O’Sullivan getting a thump from a Colombian has once again sent this country into a mob mentality before we go and play our opener.
Never a dull moment.
But we’ve rarely tasted occasion quite like an opening of a World Cup against the hosts in front an 80,000-sold out crowd.
Am I optimistic, to match the mood of the nation? Absolutely bloody not.
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Australia to Win
Look, they turned over England a few months ago. They’re one of the best nations on earth and despite the fact that everyone’s younger cousin emigrated to Sydney over the last six months, the crowd will still be very pro-Matildas whether we like it or not.
One of the key reasons Australia will win is because they’re not just this passive, tedious slow-paced build-up kind of team – they fire balls into the box and test you, and take on players out wide at will.
That’s their method of breaking you down – a bit like France managed last week which saw us run out 3-0 losers.
I’d not envisage anything too extreme here but I also can’t see any way we pull a point out of the bag while Sam Kerr is breathing.
Sam Kerr to Score Two or More
And back to the point – she is, the last time I checked, still breathing.
She is easily the best header of a ball in the Women’s Super League, and while you might consider Ireland to be traditionally strong in the air, their actual expertise is the final third; proving themselves slightly susceptible in terms of dealing with movement of opposing strikers.
This is the biggest test they can have in that regard.
UPDATE — Since this story was first published, it has been announced Sam Kerr is injured and won’t be playing in this game.
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Both Teams to Score
But in the interest of being transparent, I do think that Ireland are just better than Australia in the wide areas.
Katie McCabe is good enough to provide pinpoint crosses into the box, while Denise O’Sullivan is so technically-refined that a move for her to one of the bigger sides in England wouldn’t be at all surprising.
Australia are clearly the better side, but outside of Kerr, these sides might be equally capable when it comes to goalscoring.
Under 2.5 First Half Goals
Nerves do get to you in these moments and the first 45 minutes of this game will absolutely fly by due to adrenaline and nerves.
It’s a very safe assumption to go unders in the first half, as it adds a bit of value to this bet builder.
AUSTRALIA V IRELAND BET BUILER
Australia to Win
Sam Kerr to Score Two or More
Both Teams to Score
Under 2.5 First Half Goals
A Bet Builder with these selections pays at approximately16/1with Paddy Power.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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