Australia Takes On Egypt in World Cup Showdown: Key Predictions, Tactical Previews, and Expected Lineups Revealed

Friday's World Cup action gets underway with Australia taking on Egypt in the round of 32 at AT&T Stadium.

While not the most high-profile matchup of the tournament so far, it promises to be a competitive battle between two nations with limited experience at this stage. Australia has only advanced past the group stage on two previous occasions, while this marks Egypt's first appearance in the knockout rounds since the 1934 tournament—which featured no group stage whatsoever.

Both teams finished as runners-up in their respective groups and will be eager to secure a round of 16 showdown against either defending world champions Argentina or impressive overachievers Cabo Verde.

The Socceroos collected four points during the group stage, with their only defeat coming against co-host United States, while Egypt enters unbeaten after their first World Cup win over New Zealand was bookended by hard-fought draws against Belgium and Iran.

Friday's match could genuinely go either way.

Australia vs. Egypt Score Prediction

Pharaohs Reign Supreme

There isn't a great deal to separate Australia and Egypt on paper heading into Friday's clash, but it's the African side who will be considered slight favorites.

Egypt navigated the group stage without suffering a single defeat and possesses the defensive organization to grind out results in knockout football. Hossam Hassan will make his team extremely difficult to break down, relying on the quality of his counter-attacking weapons, including Mohamed Salah (fitness permitting) and Omar Marmoush.

That individual brilliance could prove to be the decisive factor, with Tony Popovic lacking any world-class talent in the attacking third. Australia managed just two goals across their three group matches, failing to score in two of them as they were stifled by resolute defenses.

Another frustrating outing may await the AFC's sole remaining representative as Egypt looks to edge their way into the round of 16.

Prediction: Australia 0–1 Egypt

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Australia Predicted Lineup vs. Egypt

Defender Jacob Italiano and attacker Matthew Leckie are both ruled out for the Socceroos, but Popovic otherwise has a near-complete squad available for Friday's must-win fixture.

The 52-year-old may therefore opt against making any changes from the team that played out a scoreless draw with Paraguay in their previous outing.

Much of the creative responsibility will rest on the young Watford winger Nestory Irankunda, who shone in the opening victory over Türkiye, while that game's other standout performer, goalkeeper Patrick Beach, will need to be at his very best at the opposite end of the pitch.

Australia predicted lineup vs. Egypt (3-4-2-1): Beach; Circati, Souttar, Herrington; Bos, Irvine, O'Neill, Behich; Volpato, Metcalfe; Irankunda.

Egypt Predicted Lineup vs. Australia

Egypt faces uncertainty over the fitness of key man Salah ahead of the round of 32 fixture, though there is optimism the former Liverpool star will recover in time from the hamstring problem picked up against Iran.

Additionally, Hamdy Fathy, Mohamed Abdelmonem, Hossam Abdelmaguid and Ahmed Fatouh are all carrying concerns, with the latter almost certainly set to miss out due to a hamstring tear.

Yasser Ibrahim is the most likely candidate to fill in for Abdelmonem should he be absent at center back, while Karim Hafez is expected to cover for Fatouh at left back.

Egypt predicted lineup vs. Australia (4-2-3-1): Shobeir; Hany, Rabia, Ibrahim, Hafez; Attia, Saber; Ziko, Salah, Trézéguet; Marmoush.

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Ewan Ross-Murray is a freelance soccer writer who focuses primarily on the Premier League. Ewan was born in Leicester, but his heart, and club allegiance, belongs to Liverpool.