Preview: New Zealand vs Australia - prediction, team news, lineups

Rivals New Zealand and Australia will do battle in the second of a pair of international friendlies at the Go Media Stadium on Tuesday.

The two nations met on Friday in Canberra, with Tuesday's visitors coming out on top, making it eight straight victories for the Socceroos in these meetings.

Match preview

New Zealand return to action in Auckland on Tuesday aiming to end a run of eight consecutive losses to rivals Australia and avenge last week's reverse.

Their trip to Canberra last time out was the All Whites first outing since June, when they recorded a victory over Ivory Coast and a loss to Ukraine in friendlies after booking their place in the World Cup 2026 earlier this year by beating New Caledonia 3-0 in the OFC Qualifying final.

Darren Bazeley's team then travelled to Canberra on Friday and fell just short in a 1-0 loss, extending their wait for a victory over the visitors having last prevailed in July 2002, when Ryan Nelsen scored the only goal in Auckland.

That made it back-to-back defeats after previously managing seven consecutive triumphs across World Cup Qualifying and friendlies, in which the All Whites scored 34 goals and only conceded one.

Having now suffered back-to-back defeats as their preparations ramp up for next year's World Cup, New Zealand will be keen to bounce back on Tuesday and end their wait for a 14th victory over their rivals.

The visitors, meanwhile, head across to Auckland in search of a ninth consecutive win over New Zealand and a sixth victory in a row dating back to March.

Friday's meeting was Australia's first outing since a successful Asian World Cup qualifying campaign, in which they booked a sixth straight appearance on the global stage by prevailing in their third-round group.

The Socceroos eventually sealed second spot by earning 19 points from their 10 games to progress to next year's group stage, having taken a top-two spot with four consecutive wins between March and June, culminating in a 2-1 away triumph over Saudi Arabia thanks to goals from Connor Metcalfe and Mitchell Duke.

Tony Popovic's side then returned to action last week and continued their period of dominance over their rivals, making it eight wins in a row against New Zealand and 44 in total, dating back to their first in 1923, as Max Balard finally broke the deadlock with the decisive goal three minutes from time.

Australia now make the trip for the second of a pair of meetings aiming to extend their winning streak further ahead of a return to action in October and next year's World Cup.

New Zealand form (all competitions):

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Australia form (all competitions):

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Team News

Darren Bazeley should field a similar New Zealand starting XI to last week's narrow defeat, with defender Liberato Cacace having been forced to withdraw from the squad prior to that game through injury.

In his absence, Francis De Vries should continue on the left-hand side of the defence, while Michael Boxall, who has earned 58 caps for the All Whites will again partner Tyler Bindon at the heart of the back four.

Nottingham Forest star Chris Wood will again lead the line, having netted 44 goals in his 85 caps, while Kosta Barbarouses will hope to displace either Elijah Just or Callum McCowatt and start on the wing.

Australia should also field a similar lineup to the first meeting last week, with 100-capped goalkeeper Mathew Ryan, veteran defender Aziz Behich and key midfielders Jackson Irvine and Massimo Luongo having been unable to make the latest squad.

Harry Souttar also remains sidelined by a long-term injury, meaning 21-year-old Alessandro Circati should again join Milos Degenek and Christian Burgess in defence.

Max Balard may earn a start on Tuesday, having scored the winning goal after his 85th-minute introduction last time out, while Martin Boyle should again lead the line having scored 10 goals in his 35 caps.

New Zealand possible starting lineup:

Crocombe; Payne, Bindon, Boxall, De Vries; Bell, Singh, Thomas; Barbarouses, Wood, McCowatt

Australia possible starting lineup:

Izzo; Cirati, Degenek, Burgess; Silvera, Balard, O'Neill, Bos; Hrustic, Boyle, Metcalfe

We say: New Zealand 1-1 Australia

New Zealand looked all but set to end their losing run against Australia until the late winner last week, but they do now have the quality to gain a result against the Socceroos, and we at least back them to come away with a draw with home advantage in Auckland.

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