Preview: Australia vs. New Zealand - prediction, team news, lineups

While Australia impressed in defeat to England on Friday night, New Zealand were held to a draw by Congo DR in a showdown that took place in Spain.

Match preview

After pushing eventual winners Argentina in the last 16 of the World Cup, Australia have endured somewhat of a quiet year on the international stage, their fixture with England on Friday just their fifth of 2023.

One of those games was a renewal of acquaintances with Argentina, losing by a 2-0 scoreline, before they let slip a two-goal lead to draw with Mexico in Texas in September.

Their winless streak was extended to four games on Friday as they went down by a 1-0 scoreline to an experimental England XI at Wembley Stadium.

Nevertheless, Graham Arnold could be satisfied with the performance of his players, the fact that the Socceroos coach was disappointed to lose in London a testament of the standards that are being set under his management.

Attention now turns to facing New Zealand ahead of a busy period of World Cup qualifiers and Asian Cup matches for Australia, who defeated the All Whites when they last squared off in September 2022.

New Zealand have been more inactive than Australia in international action, playing just four times since their double-header with their rivals 13 months ago.

Two of those matches were back-to-back encounters with China, before they lost out 4-1 to Sweden in June having initially taken the lead in Solna.

Darren Bazeley would have hoped for a return to winning ways when they met Congo DR in Murcia on Friday, yet it took a last-gasp Chris Wood penalty to earn a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw.

Heading into this encounter, New Zealand have won just one of their last nine outings, and there will be a determination to improve on that at the Gtech Community Stadium in England's capital.

Australia form (all competitions):

L

W

L

L

D

L

New Zealand form (all competitions):

L

D

W

L

W

D

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Team News

Given their rivalry, Arnold is not expected to overly tinker with his Australia XI, the hope being that they can build on the performance against England.

Experienced defender Aziz Behich could return at left-back, while Lewis Miller may be handed a first start on the opposite side.

Massimo Luongo is an option in central midfield, but Mitchell Duke could retain his spot in attack with youngster Mohamed Toure unlikely to start for Australia at this stage.

Bill Tuiloma may return to the New Zealand XI in place of Niko Kirwan, while Matthew Garbett could be restored to central midfield.

Sarpreet Singh is in line to retain his spot in the midfield three, but Alex Greive and Ben Waine may remain on the substitutes' bench.

Australia possible starting lineup:

Ryan; Miller, Souttar, Burgess, Behich; Boyle, Luongo, Irvine, Goodwin; Metcalfe; Duke

New Zealand possible starting lineup:

Tzanev; Tuiloma, Boxall, Pijnaker, Cacare; Stamenic, Singh, Garbett; McCowatt, Wood, Just

We say: Australia 2-1 New Zealand

Regardless of the lineups that are selected, this should prove to be a hard-fought contest, one which will be engaging given their rivalry. For us, though, Australia are justified favourites, and Arnold's could edge this contest to secure bragging rights until their next clash.

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