India vs Australia, AFC Asian Cup 2024: Socceroos Defense Full Of European Regulars, Pose New Challenge For Blue Tigers

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India vs Australia, AFC Asian Cup 2024: Blue Tigers are all set to face their first opponent of the AFC Asian Cup 2024 on January 13. Sunil Chhetri and forwards will be up against a formidable Australian defense, filled with towering defenders.

After an amazing campaign at the 2022 World Cup to the knockout stages, the Socceroos are coming prepared. The Australian football team has played England, Mexico, Argentina, and more in friendlies, preparing their defense for the best.

In those 3 matches against the giants, Australia managed to concede no more than 2 goals. The credit goes to their amazing backline they have and the goalkeeper Matt Ryan. Every one of coach Graham Arnold's first-choice players under the bar and the backline is playing in Europe. It will be tough for the Indian football team to crack open that fort in the AFC Asian Cup 2024.

India vs Australia: Matt Ryan and Harry Souttar leaders of Australian defense

The coach's preferred backline could consist of Jordan Bos in left-back, Key Rowles and Harry Souttar in centre-backs, and Lewis Miller in right-back positions. Bos is a regular starter for Belgian top-tier club KVC Westerlo.

Rowles and Miller are regular starters for Scottish top-tier clubs Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian FC, respectively. Souttar plays for Leicester City, who were recently relegated to the English second-tier league, the Championship.

Souttar has been a no-brainer starter for coach Arnold. However, his time at the club is a different story. He has only appeared in 4 matches this season and 2 of them were off the bench. Yet, he has the Australian football team coach's faith. He has also delivered by scoring four goals in five matches September onwards. On the other hand, goalkeeper Mathew Ryan is another problem for the coach.

Ryan is a former Premier League player who is currently a regular starter for the Dutch first-tier club AZ Alkmaar. However, he fractured his cheekbone. It's a possibility that coach Arnold could start him with a protective mask.

However, in all probability, Joe Gauci should start under the bar. In the backline, the coach has good replacements for the AFC Asian Cup 2024 matches, like Aziz Behich, Gethin Jones, Nathaniel Atkinson, Cameron Burgess, and more.