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Australia vs Brazil International Friendly Tips & Prediction - Brazil with too much attacking firepower for Socceroos

Andrew Hendrie

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Last updated: Wed 23 Sep 2026 02:48

Andrew Hendrie 1 hour ago

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Australia vs Brazil predictions for Friday's International Friendly in Townsville
Socceroos continue to struggle in front of goal, hurt by Toure injury
Brazil tipped for a win to nil, with Barcelona striker Raphinha in red-hot form
The game is scheduled for kick off at 8.00pm AEST on Friday September 25

Australia vs Brazil International Friendly Tips & Prediction

Both teams were poor at the World Cup, but Brazil have a wealth of attacking options - led by in-form Barcelona striker Raphinha - and are tipped to hold out the Socceroos when the two teams square off at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville on Friday night.

Australia vs Brazil International Friendly Tips & Prediction
Australia vs Brazil Stats & Trends
Australia vs Brazil Head To Head
Australia Form Analysis
Australia Team News
Brazil Form Analysis
Brazil Team News

The Socceroos get to test themselves in a pair of marquee friendlies in Queensland against five-time World Cup winners Brazil, with the first of these two games taking place in Townsville on Friday night.

Tony Popovic came under immense scrutiny for his negative tactics as the Socceroos crashed out of the World Cup in the R32 on penalties to Egypt.

Brazil of course are held to a much higher standard and Carlo Ancelotti's side were also disappointing at the World Cup after being outclassed by Norway in the Round of 16.

Ancelotti has named a strong squad for these two fixtures, headlined by Barcelona star man Raphinha, who has started the La Liga season in record-breaking form, amassing 12 goals in just seven games.

Australia meanwhile were hit with a blow earlier this week, with star striker Mo Toure ruled out for the next couple of months after suffering a shoulder injury that requires surgery while playing for Norwich.

With Toure out and the Socceroos lacking a pure No. 9 up front, they will likely find goals hard to come by again.

So the best bets for this game are BTTS - No and a Brazil win to nil. Small stakes only in friendlies and there's a decent chance Raphinha won't start this game, but you've got to include him as an anytime goalscorer.

Estevao also looks decent value - he hasn't received many minutes for Chelsea this season and could feature from the start as Ancelotti looks to ease his main attacking stars into these two fixtures after a long trip from Europe.

Australia vs Brazil Stats & Trends

Australia have won just one of their last six games
Australia have failed to score in five of their last six defeats inside 90 minutes
Australia have failed to win 41 of their 50 previous meetings vs South American nations
Brazil have won six of their last eight games
Two of Brazil's last three wins have been accompanied by a clean sheet
Raphinha has scored 14 goals in eight games in all comps with Barcelona to start the season
Estevao has scored five goals in 11 senior appearances for Brazil

Australia vs Brazil Head To Head

Brazil have won six of the eight meetings between the two nations, including the last three by 4-0, 6-0 and 2-0 scores.

The most-recent encounter was a friendly at the MCG in 2017, with Brazil easing to a 4-0 victory.

Australia Form Analysis

Despite advancing from the group stage, it was a poor World Cup for the Socceroos as they failed to score a proper goal in their last three games.

It was an extremely encouraging start as Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe scored two stunning goals to hand Australia a 2-0 victory over Turkey.

However, Popovic went into his shell and his team's performances suffered in an ensuing 2-0 defeat to USA before a 0-0 stalemate with Paraguay.

The Socceroos needed an own goal to force Egypt into extra-time in penalties, but a baffling decision to substitute in-form goalkeeper Patrick Beach for Mat Ryan contributed to Australia crashing out in the R32.

Australia Team News

Massive blow with Toure injuring his shoulder earlier this week, which means Popovic will probably play Irankunda by himself and out of position as a lone striker, which failed miserably at the World Cup.

Alex Robertson has also been ruled out after Cardiff cited a busy start to the season contributing to fatigue. Jordy Bos remains sidelined with a knee injury he sustained against Egypt.

Eli Adams, Kealey Adamson, Jacob Chapman, Yaya Dukuly and Marcus Younis have been called into their maiden Socceroos camp. Dukuly and Younis have been impressing for their respective European teams and will hopefully see some game time across these two fixtures.

Kasey Bos and Dylan Leonard are also in contention to see maiden Socceroos minutes.

Lucas Herrington hasn't put a foot wrong after earning a high-profile move to the Premier League with Hull, while Alessandro Circati is starting to receive some game time after signing with Portuguese giants Benfica. Irankunda has been making brief cameos off the bench for Sporting, but did start their most-recent game.

Riley McGree and Patrick Yazbek have been recalled after missing the World Cup through injury.

Full Socceroos Squad

Goalkeepers

Patrick Beach (Troyes), Jacob Chapman (St Mirren), Paul Izzo (Randers)

Defenders

Kealey Adamson (Queens Park Rangers), Aziz Behich (Melbourne City), Kasey Bos (Excelsior, Rotterdam, on loan from Mainz 05), Alessandro Circati (Benfica), Milos Degenek (APOEL), Jason Geria (Albirex Niigata), Lucas Herrington (Hull City), Jacob Italiano (Grazer AK), Dylan Leonard (Alemannia Aachen), Harry Souttar (Leicester City)

Midfielders

Jackson Irvine (Cerezo Osaka), Riley McGree (Middlesbrough), Connor Metcalfe (St. Pauli), Aiden O'Neill (New York City), Paul Okon-Engstler (FC Köln), Patrick Yazbek (Nashville SC)

Forwards

Eli Adams (Gamba Osaka), Yaya Dukuly (NK Celje), Nestory Irankunda (Sporting CP), Nishan Velupillay (FC Ingolstadt), Tete Yengi (FC Machida Zelvia), Marcus Younis (Brøndby IF)

Brazil Form Analysis

Another disappointing World Cup for Brazil, who have failed to make the final since winning their fifth trophy in 2002, going beyond the quarter-finals only once.

However, it was a new low in North America, with the Selecao suffering a R16 exit to Norway, going down 2-1.

Brazil had earlier beaten Scotland and Haiti 3-0 in the group stage, along with a 1-1 draw with Morocco.

There were clear signs Ancelotti's side were struggling, needing to come from behind and a 95th minute winner to edge past Japan 2-1 in the R32.

Brazil Team News

Chelsea striker Joao Pedro missed the World Cup and has been ruled out of these friendlies, with Matheus Martinelli coming into the squad.

Raphinha has been on fire, shattering records to begin the La Liga season as Barcelona have surged to a perfect 7-0 start.

Statistic / Milestone	Raphinha (2026–27)	Previous Best / Comparison
Goals in First 7 Games	12 goals	Surpasses Lionel Messi's best start
Club Brazilian Ranking	89 total goals	Closing in on Ronaldinho (94 goals)
Season Trajectory	31 team goals total	FC Barcelona's best start to 7 league matches

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker has been left out, with Ancelotti selecting three local-based keepers.

Other high-profile names in the squad include Arsenal pair Gabriel and Bruno Guimarães, along with PSG defender Marquinhos and Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr, who has endured a slow start to the La Liga season.

Full Brazil Squad

Goalkeepers

Hugo Souza (Corinthians), Pedro Morisco (Coritiba), Otávio (Cruzeiro)

Defenders

Arthur Dias (Athletico-PR), Douglas Santos (Zenit), Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal), Jair (Nottingham Forest), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Matheuzinho (Corinthians), Mauro Júnior (PSV Eindhoven), Vitor Reis (Manchester City), Wesley (Roma)

Midfielders

Andrey Santos (Manchester United), Breno Bidon (Corinthians), Bruno Guimarães (Arsenal), Danilo Santos (Botafogo), Douglas Luiz (Juventus), Gabriel Bontempo (Santos), Matheus Martinelli (Fluminense)

Forwards

Endrick (Real Madrid), Estêvão (Chelsea), Pedro (Flamengo), Raphinha (Barcelona), Rayan (Bournemouth), Samuel Lino (Flamengo), Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid)