Australia vs Republic of Ireland predictions: Kerr can kickstart Aussies' campaign

- Australia have won their last six internationals in their home country 
- Republic of Ireland have failed to score in four of five internationals this year 
- Recommended bet: Sam Kerr anytime scorer

Co-hosts Australia kick off their World Cup campaign in Sydney and are strongly fancied to make light work of debutants Republic of Ireland.

Tony Gustavsson's three-time quarter-finalists will have a sold-out Stadium Australia behind them as they seek to take an early stranglehold on Group B.

The Irish would dearly love to gatecrash the party and they will take heart from the fact that when these countries last faced each other – their only meeting – in September 2021, Ireland ran out the shock 3-2 winners.

Team news

Defender Charlotte Grant is a doubt for the Matildas after a recent bout of illness. 

Tameka Yallop and Kyah Simon are both fit after injuries but may not be involved.

Ireland midfielder Denise O'Sullivan has been declared fit after picking up a knee injury in an abandoned friendly against Colombia on Friday. 

Skipper Katie McCabe, injured against France three weeks ago, is also fit for boss Vera Pauw.

The stats

Australia have won nine of their last 10 internationals and have not conceded a first-half goal in any of their last eight fixtures.

Matildas' record scorer Sam Kerr scores a goal better than every other game for her national team (63 goals in 121 appearances).

The Irish beat Australia 3-2 in Dublin in the only previous meeting between these countries but have failed to score in four of five completed matches in 2023.

Prediction

Australia have lost their opening game at each of their last three World Cups but it would be a major surprise if that becomes four in Sydney.

Yes, the Matildas are acutely aware that they lost to Ireland less than two years ago in Dublin. However, that was a non-competitive game and the Australians were a long way from full-strength.

Right now the co-hosts are playing well and if they needed a confidence boost going into their Group B opener it was surely beating both England and France in their two matches immediately prior to the finals.

They are blessed with a confident team, well drilled under Gustavsson and boast one of the game's top strikers in Kerr, who can find the net at Stadium Australia.

The Chelsea forward, with a record 63 goals for her country, has scored five goals in her last four World Cup appearances and the Matildas' skipper comes into the match on the back of a 12-goal WSL campaign helping her side lift the title.

For Ireland, their qualification campaign was built on a classy defence which leaked just four goals in nine ties, impressive considering two of those matches were against Sweden.

Niamh Fahey and the rest of Ireland's ageing defence will have to be on their mettle, but the likelihood is that they will be exposed at times and that Kerr will be one of those to find the net.

Back Kerr to score at anytime at 1/1 with LiveScore Bet