Paraguay vs Australia Prediction: Both sides content with a draw in California

Second place in Group D is up for grabs at Levi's Stadium where Paraguay and Australia lock horns (Thursday 7pm local, Friday 3am BST, ITV). Both sides have beaten Turkey and lost to the USA, with the Crescent-Stars and the Stars and Stripes already confirmed in fourth place and top spot, respectively.

Below are my Paraguay vs Australia predictions, supported by all the latest team news and match odds, ahead of this clash in Santa Clara, California.

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Team News

Miguel Almiron is suspended for Paraguay following his sending-off in La Albirroja's 1-0 win over Turkey last time out. The former Newcastle United winger could be replaced in Gustavo Alfaro's starting XI by Damian Bobadilla, who began his country's opening group game, a 4-1 thrashing by the USA, before coming on at the start of the second half against Turkey,

World Cup Odds

Australia's goalscorers in their 2-0 victory over Turkey, Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe, were surprisingly dropped from the starting XI for the Socceroos' second group game against the USA. The decision failed to pay dividends as the Stars and Stripes cruised to a 2-0 win, so expect Tony Popovic to restore Irankunda and Metcalfe to his starting XI for this group finale.

Mathew Leckie, who was promoted to the starting XI against the USA, is out injured with a hamstring injury, so Cristian Volpato, who impressed off the bench, could make his first international start.

Jacob Italiano (unspecified) will also have to be replaced in the starting XI due to injury, with Kai Trewin his most likely replacement.

Paraguay vs Australia Odds

Paraguay are 15/8 favourites to win, implying a 34.8% probability of success, with Australia 11/4, or a 26.7% chance, and the draw offered at 5/4.

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Total Goals - Under 1.5 @ 11/8

There's a decent chance that three points will be enough to qualify for the knockout phase, which puts both Paraguay and Australia in a good position already. A draw between the two here, giving each a point, would almost certainly see both sides reach the round of 32.

Australia are in the driving seat as, with a better goal difference than Paraguay, a draw would be enough to clinch a runners-up spot in Group D and, in theory, set up an easier tie in the knockouts.

So, you would imagine that the Socceroos would take a 0-0 draw right now, and they're a conservative team by nature, so they should thrive in this sort of scenario.

We'll have to see how Paraguay approach this game, whether they'll 'go for it' and look to take second place off Australia, or look to protect their -2 goal difference knowing that a defeat, particularly a heavy one, could prove costly.

Certainly, if either side goes in front, expect them to bunker in to protect the lead.

Under 1.5 Total Goals was a winning bet in four of Australia's 10 final-stage qualifiers, and five of their 10 friendlies post-qualification.

As for Paraguay, 13 of their 18 qualifiers went under 1.5 goals, so they're no strangers to a low-scoring contest, either.

Team With Most Shots - Paraguay @ 8/13

Australia have taken the fewest shots in eight of their last 10 games, including the last four, only winning the shot count in March victories over Cameroon (1-0) and Curacao (5-1).

Paraguay also took the fewest shots in their first two Group D games, but to their credit, they still took three shots in the second half against Turkey, despite going down to 10 men before the interval.

With the scores level, it's Australia who will be content to sit off, so Paraguay should be the team who show a bit more ambition.