Confederations Cup Betting Preview: Australia Long Shot on Tournament Odds

It's been 12 years since Australia last made the Confederations Cup, and the Socceroos go into this year's tournament at the second-longest odds to claim the trophy of the eight teams involved.

The tournament, which features the champions of the six different football confederations as well as the reigning World Cup winner and the host of the next World Cup, acts as a trial event for the upcoming World Cup hosts, with 10 matches staged over two weeks.

As they did back in 2005, Australia kick off their tournament with a match against Germany, with the match being held in Sochi at 1am next Tuesday morning Australian time.

The Socceroos, who are back at $34 AUD to win the tournament, according to AustralianGambling.com.au, come off a 4-0 loss to Brazil in a recent friendly in Melbourne. Prior to that, they secured an important three points in the quest to qualify for next year's World Cup by beating Saudi Arabia 3-2.

Germany, unbeaten in 10 matches since their semi-final defeat to France at last year's European Championship, may be missing some big names but are still $3.30 joint-favourites for the tournament.

Even without the likes of Manuel Neuer, Mesut Ozil, Mats Hummels, Toni Kroos and Thomas Muller, Germany enter the Australian game as $1.40 favourites, with the draw at $4.50 and an Australian win priced at $7.50.

While Australia lost to Germany in the 2005 Confederations Cup and 2010 World Cup, they beat them in a friendly in 2011 and drew with them in another friendly two years ago.

The issue for the Socceroos is that their challenges doesn't stop there, with South American champions Chile also in Group B. Chile defeated Australia 3-1 at the 2014 World Cup and have since gone on to twice claim the Copa America.

The other team in the difficult group are Cameroon, the recently crowned African champions, whom Australia have never met in an international.

Germany are $1.83 to win the group, with Chile at $2.70, Cameroon $7 and Australia $13.

Group A looks a lot more straightforward, with Portugal at $1.80 favourites to finish on top, Russia $3.10, Mexico $4.50 and New Zealand $101.

Mexico are the only team to have previously won the tournament, albeit in 1999.

Portugal join Germany at the top of the market to win the tournament, with Chile on the next line at $3.75. It's then a big jump out to Russia and Mexico, both on $9.