Caltex Socceroos v Syria: comparing key stats

With the Caltex Socceroos heading to Malaysia for a make or break AFC World Cup qualifier playoff with Syria next week, we compare Australia and Syria's stats from the group stage.

After 10 games both nations finished third in respective groups in 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification AFC Third Round.
But that’s pretty much where the similarities end, as these Opta stats reveal.

POSSESSION
The Socceroos rule possession with an impressive 62.66% versus Syria’s 39.61%.
In fact this stat had Australia second best in the 12 nations from both groups, while Syria’s percentage was second lowest of all in both groups.
As ​Aussie coach Ange Postecoglou noted this week, he expects Syria to sit back and absorb.

PASSING ACCURACY
Australia again dominates this stat, with 83.52% versus Syria’s 62.04%, which makes the Green and Gold the best out of all 12 nations and Syria with the lowest (12th).

The Caltex Socceroos celebrate scoring a goal during the FIFA Confederations Cup.
The Caltex Socceroos celebrate a Tom Rogic goal during the FIFA Confederations Cup.

 TACKLE SUCCESS
Here both nations are almost equal: Australia with 74.16% and Syria 72.77%.

FOULS WON
Syria won more fouls than the Socceroos: that stat reads 133 to 109 in the Syrians’ favour.

DISCIPLINE
There’s a big difference here. The Syrians racked up 19 yellows over their 10 games, which put them third highest overall, while the Australians had the second lowest overall on 13. In the red card stats, neither nation had a player sent off.