Australia v USA betting tips: Bronze medal on the line
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Australia v USA betting tips and odds
World champions USA are in danger of leaving Japan without an Olympic medal following their 1-0 semi-final defeat by arch rivals Canada.
The United States have looked a shadow of their former selves at the 12-team tournament but are 8/11 to beat Australia in the bronze medal match in Kashima.
The Matildas can count themselves unlucky to have lost their semi-final against Sweden so let’s examine the markets and odds in our Australia v USA betting tips.
Match Odds
The Aussies were cruelly denied the chance of gold on Monday when Sam Kerr mysteriously had a first-half goal disallowed, supposedly for interference at a free-kick.
Fridolina Rolfo rubbed salt into the wounds with what turned out to be the winner at the start of the second half to end Australia’s hopes of becoming Olympic champions.
Australia held United States to a goalless draw in the final group game and can be backed at 11/4 to finish level after 90 minutes or 18/5 to win. Another 0-0 is priced at 12/1.
“Life has knocked me down a few times. It showed me things I never wanted to see. I experienced sadness and failures. But one thing for sure, I always get up.” #stillnotdone #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/B1f7f5PZWB
— Carli Lloyd (@CarliLloyd) August 3, 2021
The four-time Olympic champions struggled to handle the aggressive 3-4-3 formation deployed by Australia head coach Tony Gustavsson who may adopt a similar approach on Thursday.
Mary Fowler hit the USA bar with a header and their ability in the air was noticeable in their thrilling 4-3 extra-time win against Great Britain.
The Aussies are 2/1 to win the bronze medal and 13/2 to win and both teams to score against a USA team that were crushed 3-0 by Sweden, while it’s 21/20 on under 2.5 goals just as it was in the group stage or 11/10 on at least one team not to score.
USA have won just one of their five matches in Japan following their 1-0 defeat by Canada but will want to go out on a high so they can be backed at 31/20 to win and under 3.5 goals.
Talking Tactics
Ellie Carpenter is suspended after being sent off for a professional foul in stoppage time against Sweden so Gustavsson has some thinking to do about replacing Australia’s star defender.
Laura Brock and Clare Polkinghorne are both options, having started on the bench against the Swedes.
Carli Lloyd, Christen Press and Megan Rapinoe were all on the bench for the Canada game, so USA head coach Vlatko Andonovski may decide to make changes with a medal on the line, although he is likely to keep faith with a 4-3-3 formation.
Match Info
Where: Kashima Stadium, Kashima, Japan
When: 09:00, Thursday 5th August
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
