Betting odds Germany

Manager: Joachim Low
Captain: Philipp Lahm
FIFA World Ranking: 6
World Cup Appearances: 16
Best World Cup: Winner; 1954, 1974, 1990

Germany Team Profile

If you’re looking for a bargain this summer, a little piece of value, then the Germans maybe right up your street. The three-time FIFA World Cup winners are arguably the most consistent nation around having played in all but two of the previous 18 World Cup finals, while the Germans have made it past the group stage a staggering 17 times, failing just once way back in 1938. However, the Germans will need to achieve a feat they’ve never managed before if they are to be the first country to win the FIFA World Cup on African soil, and that’s to win a World Cup outside of Europe. All of Germany’s previous three World Cup triumphs have come inside of Europe, with two even coming on home soil.

The Germans are arguably the most consistent nation on the circuit and it’s been a combination of experience, combative qualities and some wise tactical nous which has helped them build such a formidable record at international level. Their consistency in the finals of any tournament, whether that be the FIFA World Cup of the European Championships, is in impeccable and the proof, if you ever needed it, that Germany, no matter how weak or average their team may look on paper, always come good when their backs are against the walls. They finished as a losing finalists in Japan/Korea in 2002, third in Germany in their own backyard in 2006, while the 2008 European Championships seen the consistent and almost infallible Germans reach yet another major final, this time losing out to Spain in Austria/Switzerland in 2008.

While two years have passed since that disappointing night in Austria in 2008, a bitter taste will still fill the mouths of the German camp, with many of the unfortunate souls who lost that day still in the German team aiming to make amends in South Africa.

Manager

A manager cannot win a game all by himself but he can certainly dictate how it can pan out. When Joachim Low took charge of the Germans back in July 2006, many were saying he was inheriting one of the poorest German sides in their history. However, despite the doubters, he guided Germany to a third place finish in the 2006 World Cup which was conveniently held in Germany. The pressure was on him to deliver a good performance from his team and they certainly did that. Now he’s won over the fans, he can now concentrate on going one better and avenging the Semi-Final defeat in 2006 and hopefully book a place in the final of the 2010 World Cup.

Joachim Low has 10 years managerial experience on his CV although his spell at Germany was and still is his first International duty. By the time the World Cup comes round he will have spent nearly four years as manager of Germany and that has to be a major plus point in terms of team chemistry and morale. He’s enjoyed instant success as German manager but he still lacks a winners medal. He does posses a squad capable of big things although he will have his work cut out getting them to another final showdown.

Germany Key Players

In defence, an area where perhaps some will say is their weak spot, we have three players with vast amounts of experience at international level; Philip Lahm is one of the best left-backs in the world, bombing forward to assist the winger with deliveries while he remains sound when needing to defence. Per Mertesacker has had his critics in the past but he’s proven a stalwart at the back for Germany with his aerial prowess a real asset in both a defensive and offensive situation. Last and foremost, Arne Friedrich, who will more than likely take up the right-back role. As you can patently see, all three have more than enough international caps, combing to make for one of the more competent, professional and experienced defences out of the 32 teams competing.

The midfield is often where you win games and if you can overrun a combative German midfield, you’re half way to winning the battle. And battle is a fitting word to describe the German captain Michael Ballack. At 33 years-old, Ballack has seemingly been in the game for an age and will be making his third appearance in the finals of a World Cup. He will take valuable experience from his previous World Cup adventures into the German camp, as well as his hard-working and industrious attitude, while Ballack has been known to strike an absolute thunderbolt in his time. When the pressure is on and a goal is perhaps needed, Ballack has never shied away from the hero situations and will amply fit the bill in South Africa should Joachim Low require one at any stage.

While Ballack provides the German midfield with solidity and a formidable presence, not forgetting his commendable leadership qualities, no midfield is complete without some creativity, the players which can really make the fireworks light with a bang, and while those have been few and far between in the German squad in recent years, Piotr Trochowski and Bastien Schweinsteiger may just fit the role perfectly as Low looks to build on a previously lightweight attack by adding guile, ingenuity and power with the inclusions of the two ment.

The German attack is where their games will be won and lost, mainly won if the record of their forwards is anything to go by. The two stand-outs in the German attack by quite some distance are the pairing of Miroslav Klose (Caps: 94 Goals: 48) and Lukas Podolski (Caps: 70 Goals: 37). Not only do these two have goals in them, and that’s a proven fact, they compliment one another so well.

In one corner with have the subtlety of Klose, who with his predatory instinct in and around the penalty has earned himself a lethal reputation as one of the World’s best attackers while he already has a World Cup Golden Shoe to his name after finishing Korea/Japan with the best goal return in the competition back in 2002. As you can tell by the year in which he won that honour, Klose also packs a punch with his experience, so to say Klose is well travelled and a goal-getter would be stating the obvious.

Lukas Podolski, however, seems to have spent an eternity in the German fold despite being just 25 years-of-age. He’s a player which really has come of age and has been prolific in front of goal for his country, averaging a goal every-other-game under Low. The unqiue factor with Podolski in comparison to Klose is Podolski is much more versatile, willing to play in any position and perform any role for the team and yet he still manages to find the goal from wherever he ends up on the pitch. He simply has a keen eye for the goal, and when he does locate the goal, he doesn’t half get his foot behind the ball.

In goal is perhaps the only area of the pitch where Germany look lightweight in terms of international experience, with the likelihood being Rene Adler and Manuel Neuer travelling to South Africa as Germany’s main contenders for the gloves. Both of which are superb goalies, immense shot-stoppers and an excellent commander of the box. The pair may lack international caps but they’re world-class goalies in their own right, while both have enjoyed promising seasons in the German Bundesliga, although Adler’s was blighted with injuries.

Strengths

You would have to say the attacking duo of Miroslav Klose and Lukas Poloski make Germany a serious threat and danger in the final third, while the strength in depth in this specific area of the pitch is very strong. Klose and Poldolski have incredible scoring records for Germany, both averaging more than a goal every-other-game. Both will be pivotal in Germany’s chances in South Africa, but the fact Low has suitable replacements ready to fit the bill should one of the potent duo fall foul to an injury, with Mario Gomez (Bought for £30 million a year ago for Bayern Munich) and Stefan Kiebling (Top goalscorer in the German Bundesliga) ready and raring to go should their services be required.

There are plenty of goals in the German attack, with the Germans clinical attitude in front of goal one of the reasons why English fans are fearing the worst, and why the loyal flood of German supporters travelling to South Africa will remain optimistic and in high spirit.

Also, the Germans will be a tough side to overcome over 90 minutes and no-one during qualifying managed to beat the Germans within that time-frame, with Joachim Low’s men remaining undefeated in 10 qualifiers. 

Weaknesses

While their defence is equipped to handle the aerial threat, while it does have plenty of caps between Philip Lahm, Per Mertesacker and Arne Friedrich, it’s a defence which has been exposed and exploited in past tournaments, while the fact almost the same back four which played in Germany 2006 will take to the field for most of Germany’s encounters in South Africa allows other nations to do some easy homework, pinpointing any possible German weaknesses in the back which, from our mere observations, are quick footwork and pace. If a team has either of those, and plenty of them do, then the German defence could be unravelled.

Germany Qualification for the World Cup

Sector: Europe
Current Position: 1st
Win-Draw-Lose: 8-2-0
Goals Scored: 26
Goals Conceded: 5

Germany Qualifying Statistics

- Germany have kept their unbeaten record intact throughout qualifying, winning eight and drawing two in a flawless qualifying campaign.
- The Germans have kept their cool with just two yellow cards and one red card throughout the whole of qualification.
- 26 goals in 10 qualifiers is the third highest goal tally in the European sector.
- Miroslav Klose has scored 7 times in qualifying and finished as Germany’s top goalscorer.
- Germany’s comfortable qualification route ensured they stretched a streak of 16 consecutive world cup appearances to 17.

World Cup Potential: 4/5

The Germans have been turning up to tournaments understrength and underrated for some time now, as the latter adjective says, the Germans proved yet again they had a trick or two up their sleeve when it really mattered, and while they may travel to South Africa without as many stars as some of the other favoured nations, we have no doubt their pedigree and formidable reputation will leave their opponents on edge and wanting to avoid the Germans at all cost. They are, however, beatable, like every nation travelling to Africa, but that doesn’t mean they’re an easy opponent. In fact, the Germans will be one of the hardest teams to overcome in South Africa, as their record in major finals would suggest.

While some of the names in the Germany squad may not jump out of the page at you, it’s a strong set up from the Germans mixed with knowledgeable sorts; Michael Ballack, Lukas Podolski, Miroslav Klose and Bastien Schweinsteiger, who’ve been there and done that in major finals, while there is a fresh feel to the squad with some of their young prospects; Mezut Ozil and Thomas Muller tagging along for the ride aiming to make a real difference in South Africa. There’s a good feel about this German team, a positive aurora that should see them delve deep into another World Cup, with the possibility of their seventh final in a World Cup within sight after a flawless route to South Africa.

Germany World Cup Betting Odds

Germany to win the World Cup: 2/1 – Bet365

Before the World Cup the odds on Germany were 12/1 

Official Germany World Cup Squad

Goalkeepers

Manuel Neuer (Schalke 04)
Tim Wiese (Werder Bremen)
Hans-Jörg Butt (Bayern Munich)

Defenders

Arne Friedrich (Hertha BSC)
Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich)
Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen)
Serdar Tasci (VfB Stuttgart)
Jérome Boateng (Hamburg SV)
Dennis Aogo (Hamburg SV)
Holger Badstuber (Bayern Munich)

Midfielders

Marcell Jansen (Hamburg SV)
Toni Kroos (Bayer Leverkusen)
Marko Marin (Werder Bremen)
Mesut Özil (Werder Bremen)
Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich)
Sami Khedira (VfB Stuttgart)
Piotr Trochowski (Hamburg SV)

Strikers

Lukas Podolski (Cologne)
Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich)
Stefan Kießling (Bayer Leverkusen)
Cacau (VfB Stuttgart)
Thomas Müller (Bayern Munich)
Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich)

last update: 18 June 2010

World Cup 2010 Germany Fixtures – Group D

27/06 – 15.00 – Round of the last 16: Germany – England: 4-1

03/07 – 15.00 – Quarter Finals: Germany – Argentina: 4-0

07/07 – 19.30 – Semi Finals: Germany – Spain

World Cup 2010 Group D - Table

World Cup Fixtures and Results

World Cup 2010 Third Place Play-Off Odds

Uruguay to win: 9/2 at SportingBet
Draw: 13/5 at Bet365
Germany to win: 8/11 at Bet365

Uruguay

Uruguay, after battling well against Holland in the 2010 FIFA World Cup semi final, find themselves in the third place play off match against Germany, a fixture which is often met with scepticism. Usually nations simply give a run out to the squad players who have not really gotten a chance to shine at all through the tournament. This devalues the game a little bit, but after missing out on a place in the World Cup final, how motivated are nations supposed to be? Moral and interest probably won’t be that high, but Uruguay can be very proud of the progress which they have made through the tournament. After basically coming from nowhere, they were on the brink of making the World Cup Final, when they had been fully overlooked in World Cup betting at the start of the tournament. Their strengths have been in the way they stick together as a team, and while their style has not been the most exciting to watch, they have certainly contributed to the World Cup in a large way. After being the last of the 32 teams to qualify for South Africa 2010, they exceeded everyone’s expectations, and now they can finish in third place, which would crown a big step forward for the nation.

A dogged, hard grafting team, Uruguay have suffocated teams and have hit hard on the counter attack. They have been helped with a wonderful attack which consists of Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez. It will be interesting now just how far Uruguay can go in terms of building upon this success. Being the second smallest populated country at the World Cup, Uruguay have made the best of their resources, and now they need to ensure that they become a force to be reckoned with in South Africa for some time to come. Their eventual undoing was not having enough creativity in midfield. While Forlan was playing with an injury, the Uruguay side were missing the creative influence of Nicholas Lodeiro in the middle of the park, and therefore the South Americans failed to get any real quality distribution forward. They also had to play their semi final against the Netherlands without the quality of Suarez up front, who was red carded in Uruguay’s quarter final triumph against Ghana for punching a shot off the line. His controversial action paid dividends as Ghana missed the last minute penalty, and Uruguay pushed on through in a penalty shoot out. Who really would have predicted Uruguay finishing in the last four at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The last four was supposed to be all about the glamour sides like Argentina and Brazil, but in a World Cup full of surprises, the success of Uruguay has been one of the biggest.

They will not have won many friends because of the Suarez handball, but they deserve their plaudits. Star man Diego Forlan, who hit four goals in the tournament, revealed that he had been playing the semi final with an injury, but he can hold his head high knowing that he has been one of the best performers of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Whether the semi final will be the end of his World Cup adventures remains to be seen, as his injury may well keep him out of the third placed match. It is always a strange occasion watching two teams who are a bit apathetic towards the occasion take to the field. But the match is there to be played, and one player returning to the side will probably be Suarez, who has three goals to his name. Injuries and suspension hurt Uruguay badly ahead of their semi final match, and now coach Oscar Tabarez will hope to inspire his men to finish third ahead of Germany. Against the odds, Uruguay were the last South American team left in the tournament amongst Europe’s best, and now what would really be the crowning moment on their 2010 FIFA World Cup campaign, would be for them to really come out of their shell and put on a fiesta of football against Germany. There really is nothing to lose anymore for them, after their World Cup dreams ended with a 3-2 defeat by Holland. There has been enough quality in the side though to suggest that they have plenty to build with, but four years is a long time in football, and Uruguay need to use that time wisely in nurturing their youngster.

Germany

The biggest question surrounding Germany, will be how well their youngsters will respond to the disappointment of losing to pre tournament favourites Spain in the semi finals. Germany have been one of the most thrilling teams to watch at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, putting four goals past Australia, England and Argentina on their way to the semi finals. Joachim Loew has built a fantastic young team, but they fell just a little bit short when it mattered most, as the experienced Spaniards got the better of them. Germany may feel like they let themselves down in the end, adopting a much more conservative approach to the game against the Spaniards, as opposed to going out and playing their own match. The Germans were sitting back far too much, worrying about the threats of the Spaniards. All it took was a lapse in concentration at the back from the German defence, which let in Spanish defender Carles Puyol with a headed goal. With the Germans famed through history for their discipline in defence, it was a tough blow for them to suffer. The Germans were also missing four goal Thomas Mueller for the semi final, and his absence felt quite big. That extra little spark when breaking forward was missing, and the chances for the Germans were few and far between.

We did not see the expansive, thrilling German side that had took the tournament by storm. Instead we saw caution, and hopefully, for the World Cup third place match, the attacking Germany will re-emerge. They will be favourites against Uruguay on the day, naturally, and it will be a chance to stretch their legs again without any pressure upon them. After being starved of service in the semi final, striker Miroslav Klose will be hungry to put the ball in the back of the net, as he looks to equal Ronaldo’s World Cup goal scoring record of 15. This could be the German goal scoring legend’s swan song in World Cup history, and while it would have been more fitting for him to have gotten his goal in the World Cup final against fierce rivals Holland, he will have to settle for the chances which come his way against Uruguay. After all, all goals count, no matter who the opposition are.

The 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil will be the next marker for these young Germans on the world stage. They looked to be packed with talent, with the likes of Thomas Mueller and Mesut Oezil dominating the team. Germany have invested heavily in their youth, and coach Joachim Low and Jurgen Klinsmann can be credited with all the hard work they did in shaking up German football, and adapting a more positive approach to their game. Sadly it deserted them against Spain, but that is what playing against the best in the World will do to you. Perhaps it was a touch of the big stage nerves as well, because the Germans did not look anywhere as near as confident on the ball as they were in their quarter final demolition of Argentina. The pitch for the Spain v Germany semi final didn’t help the game either, which turned out to be an low key affair, in which the Spaniards dominated possession. Even after the goal, and with the Germans pushing further and further forward, there was little penetration from the Germans. They only really had one clear chance which fell to Kroos instead of Klose, which Spain’s keeper Iker Casillas parried away. No doubt Joachim Loew will give his youngsters another crack at the whip against Uruguay, as this will be a big test of their mental toughness.

Germany V Uruguay Betting Tips & Prediction

Match Verdict – Who is likely to come out on top of this one? The Germans will be favourite and it is easy to see why. With the pressure off, their young stars could well find the freedom to express themselves. The biggest hope for this game, is that Uruguay actually play more of an open game, more open than we have seen them at the tournament so far, and that will leave them with a big in their column before heading back to South Africa. They have been one of the success stories, and whether or not Forlan plays could be a key factor in them finishing third or fourth, and missing Lodeiro and captain Lugano hurt them in the semi’s. Tabarez may just throw in the unused players now their tournament is over, which may help in seeing them be more expansive. Germany will be of the mindset that they want to build for Euro 2012 and beyond, so we should see a strong side from them. Their youngster have a great future in front of them, and a third placed finish at the World Cup would be a major triumph for their technical and mental ability. A win for Germany would be a good thing for football, championing the success of youth.

Under 2.5 Goals 21/20 at SportingBet

Current Uruguay v Germany Odds:

Spain v Germany Betting Stats

Over Under 2.5 Goals
If, like most punters, stats are your thing, we will explore them here for the Germany v Spain World Cup Semi Final. Let’s look at the goal scoring threat of both sides to start. With Torres not contributing anything but wasted chances, Spain are relying heavily on David Villa for goals, who has netted all but one of the nation’s goals at the World Cup. While Spain have been stuttering, there is the quality there to step up a gear, and they are arguably the best side in the world at the moment. Do they look as if they have three goals in them? Against a good side, not really. They have not been that dominating in terms of creating clear cut chances, even though they always dominate possession. Germany in contrast have been scoring for fun. Germany are on a 2.60 average goals per game, while Spain are averaging a far less at just 1.20. This means that goals should be fully expected from the Germans who have been potent in front of goal, largely thanks to their strength and ruthlessness in going on the break. Miroslav Klose is the main man which they will go to of course, and they will be missing Thomas Mueller who has hit four during the tournament, which is a huge blow to them. Still, add together the goals averages and you should be pretty safe going over, as both sides could have plenty of goals in them. Semi final’s usually don’t produce three goals, but records are tumbling at South Africa 2010. Looking at the four World Cups prior to South Africa 2010, only 2 of the eight matches made it to the three goals. Well worth a punt here though:
Spain V Germany Over 2.5 Goals: 6/5 at Bet365

World Cup History for Match Odds
Germany have the edge over Spain in World Cup meetings, having won two of their three encounters, with the other one having ended in a draw. For the record, here is the World Cup history between the two nations:
1994 Group Match: Germany 1, Spain 1
1982 Second Round: Germany 2, Spain 1
1966 Group Match: Germany 2, Spain 1
This is a tough match to call as Germany are the most explosive side at South Africa 2010, but Spain will likely dominate all of the possession. "Paul the Octopus" in Germany predicted a Spanish victory, so whether you want to go with an octopus or from form guides and stats, Spain are still the favourites to win the match, but the question will be who will have the more firepower at the end of the day, and that, at the moment, appears to be Germany.
Spain to win: 7/4 at Bwin
Draw: 23/10 at Ladbrokes
Germany to win: 15/8 at Boylesports

To Qualify:
Spain are tipped to go through, but really, what would be more enticing that a Germany v Holland World Cup final. You may think that England are Germany’s old foes, but if you have spent time in Germany, and I can speak from experience, you will be told that the Dutch are their main rivals. Likewise Germany is pretty much at the top of the Dutch hit list, so that final would stir up some fantastic rivalries. In many ways, this should be the final, with Spain being a fantastically accomplished and experienced teams, up against the young German upstarts. The bookmakers again only just lean towards Spain in this market, showing how close the two teams are. So therefore, the next market may be a better option. If you like your historical stats, then Spain have never been to the World Cup finals (this is their first time in the semi’s) whereas Germany have been to the Final seven times. They also have four semi final defeats under their belt, including at Germany 2006 against Portugal.
Spain: 18/19 at Bwin
Germany: Evens at Totesport

Draw No Bet
Whoever you plump for, going for the Draw No Bet option will bring you shorter odds than outright betting, but at least it gives you coverage. You’ll probably have a preference already in your mind as to who you want to win, but getting a stake refund for them drawing at the end of ninety minutes appeals to a lot of people. Again, there is little to chose between the two teams on this one, but for a World Cup semi finals, taking Evens for both is pretty good odds. Only two of the last eight World Cup semi final matches have gone to extra time.
Germany – Evens at Boylesports
Spain – Evens at Bwin

Correct Score
This is always an interesting, yet difficult market to call. For this one, the best guide is to look at results between the two teams, and results through the tournament. It’s worth looking at the average goals scored first off, and with Germany’s at 2.60 and Spain’s at 1.20, so it seems like a 2-1 victory for Germany would be a pretty safe bet here. It’s a decent price to snap up as well, hovering around 10/1 at most online bookmakers. On the flip side of that, both sides have only conceded two goals each during the tournament, which means that while there really is an enormous amount of potential for a lot of goals in this match, the defences of both teams are pretty solid and tight, which will keep the count down. 2-1 is always a great scoreline to plump with when looking through correct score markets, and bear in mind that two of the last three encounters between Germany v Spain in the World Cup have ended in a 2-1 victory for the Germans. Spain did beat Germany 1-0 in the final of Euro 2008 of course, but the German side is much changed since then.
Germany 2-1: 10/1 at SkyBet
Other best priced options:
Draw 1-1: 11/2 at Boylesports
Spain 1-0: 7/1 at 888Sport
Germany 1-0: 15/2 at Blue Square
Draw 0-0: 8/1 at Bet365
Spain 2-1: 10/1 at Victor Chandler
Spain 2-0: 12/1 at 888Sport
Germany 2-0: 14/1 at Blue Square

To win on Penalties
We like a good penalty shoot out. There is no better drama in football, as long as your nation is not participating, or your bet is hinging on it. Germany of course are the penalty kick kings, have won all four of their shoot outs in World Cup history. Their last one came in the Quarter Finals of Germany 2006 where they beat Argentina 4-2. The other three teams which have fallen to Germany on penalties at the World Cup, is Mexico, France and of course, England. Spain however, are not faring quite as well, having only won 1 out 3 World Cup shoot outs. Their first failure was against Belgium in ‘86 and their last was sent them crashing out of the 2002 World Cup when they lost 3-5 to South Korea in the Quarter Finals. Their only success came in the round previous to that in 2002, when they beat the Republic of Ireland 3-2. You would back Germany in a penalty shoot out.
Germany – 9/1 at Paddy Power
Spain – 9/1 at Paddy Power

Anytime Goalscorer
It is always worth looking at this market as opposed to First Goalscorer, as your odds are lower but realistically you have a little more chance of landing a winner. It is well worth simply backing the strikers in this market, and when you look at tournament David Villa going for around 4/1 it is not to be sniffed at. While Villa is pretty much a one man goal machine for Spain, don’t discount their attacking midfielders, as there is some serious quality in there when it comes to goals, so look at Iniesta and Xavi to get in on the act. It could be a midfield break which splits this tie wide open. For Germany, all of their midfield and attack look to have goals in them, but Klose is the main man for them, with Podolski and Oezil the most likely candidates to get in on the action.
David Villa: 9/2 at Bwin
Miroslav Klose: 13/2 at Bet365
Fernando Torres: 13/2 at Bwin
Fernando Llorente: 8/1 at Bet365
No Goalscorer: 8/1 at SkyBet
Lukas Podolski: 8/1 at Stan James
Mesut Oezil: 14/1 at Totesport
Andres Iniesta: 14/1 at Bet365
Xavi: 16/1 at BetFred

Let’s look at a Villa v Klose Head to Head

Germany v Spain Asian Handicap
Always a great market to explore. Why? Because you get extra coverage for your money, as you can back a loser and still win. The teams and World Cup odds for the Spain v Germany semi final are pretty tight, so you are not going to find too extravagant odds in this market, unless you think Germany is going to run up another goal fest for example. You will need to stray out towards a handicap of two to get some serious prices going, but you’ll need to ask yourself how realistic that will be? Are Germany two goals better than Spain, or vice-versa? As to be expected, both teams for 0 Asian Handicap are around Evens, same as most other prices, so it’s not really dabbling into that. So where are the best prices at? Looking in the minus as the teams are closely matched, bookmakers are not going to give nice prices in giving a team an advantage. You will find better odds on the Germans in the minus, as Spain slightly edge things in terms of betting. Whichever way you lean, just ask yourself how many goals you think either team will win by. If its going to be close, then a price of Spain -1 for 17/5 at Bet365 is a pretty decent price. That brings a stake refund for Spain winning by 1 goal, and a full priced win if they win by 2 clear goals. Germany at -0.75 for 47/20 at Bet365 is a decent price as well, and that will give a half win for Germany winning by 1 goal, and a full win for them winning by 2 goals. The Asian Handicap market is always worth dipping into, and however strongly you fancy Spain or Germany to win by, you can back your margin for some good prices.

World Cup 2010 Castrol Index Ranking (which analyses overal performance)
1) Philipp Lahm (GER 9.79)
2) Sergio Ramos (ESP 9.74)
3) Gerard Pique (ESP 9.70)
4) Joan Capdevila (ESP 9.66)
5) David Villa (ESP 9.62)

Germany v Spain Betting Odds

Germany to win: 19/10 at William Hill
Draw: 23/10 at Bwin
Spain to win: 7/4 at Victor Chandler

To Qualify:
Spain – 18/19 at Bwin
Germany – Evens at SkyBet

World Cup 2010 Semi Final
Date: Wednesday, July 7th
Kick Off: 19.30 GMT

Spain

Spain v Germany is a repeat of the Euro 2008 final, which the Spaniards won, finally putting to bed their major criticism about not being able to step up to the plate in tournament football. Spain became European Champions thanks to a goal by Fernando Torres, who is having troubled times at the World Cup. Spain came into the 2010 FIFA World Cup as outright favourites, but their path to the final has not been plain sailing. After famously suffering a first match defeat against Switzerland, Spain needed to rally themselves in order to get through. They have made it to the semi finals as expected, but not in the manner they expected. They have scored just six goals in their five matches, with five of them coming from star striker David Villa. David Villa is 13/10 at Bwin as Anytime Scorer in the Germany v Spain semi final. While we have all seen the brilliance and top form of Germany, Brazil and Argentina at the World Cup at some point, Spain have not quite delivered. Perhaps the shaky start dented their confidence a little bit, and while they are capable of putting on a show in front of the watching world, they have not. If you take David Villa out of the equation, there has been little genuine penetration up front from Spain, apart from Andres Iniesta. Spain were out muscled and out worked in their Quarter Final match against Paraguay, a match in which they should have found themselves behind in at half time, but for a wrongly disallowed goal for the South Americans after striker Nelson Valdez was flagged offside before putting the ball past Iker Casillas. The final execution has not been there, and the Spaniards have been guilty on more than one occasion of over-complicating simple things. They look as if they are trying just a little too hard.

It is understandable with the weight of expectation upon their shoulders. Spain’s last three victories have been by just one goal, where they were expected to go out and steam roller their way over teams. If you expect that trend to continue, Spain to win by 1 goal is 10/3 at Bet365. The dominance in front of goal hasn’t happened, because, as Paraguay showed, the Spaniards are not quite as solid throughout the team as perhaps they were expected to be. Paraguay did a fantastic job of hassling the Spaniards out of possession and disrupting their natural passing game, making Spain look really off colour. It is the same thing which Chile did against the Spaniards, and was working well until they gave away a goal in their final group match. It is the same thing which Portugal did, and the Spaniards were stopped from playing their game. Tough tackling in the middle of the park, and defending high up the pitch in pressuring the Spanish back line when they have the ball, cuts of the supply line to their forwards. The ball was not coming out of the back well, and therefore the Spanish midfield never really got a firm grip on the game. But to their credit, their collective will and team spirit have seen them overcome their trials and tribulations without ever finding their rhythm.

Coach Vicente Del Bosque knows that his team have yet to hit their peak, and while that may be worrying him, at the same time it may give him a lot of confidence knowing that there may be more to come. Spain are a team which need possession, and that is what the South Americans did not give them, at least not any quality possession. The Spain v Germany semi final is a match which may take on a different picture though, as the Germans will not be as compact as Spain’s South American opponents. The Germans like to play a high tempo game, almost in a frenetic English Premier League style, but with a little more class and conviction. While the success of the Germans have been unexpected, there will be no surprises in the way that Spain play. They are very patient on the ball with some of the most technically gifted players with the ball at their feet. Xavi and Iniesta especially stand out as world class players, whether dribbling or picking out a pass. They are the fulcrum of the team, and those are the key players which Germany will need to keep quiet. They will also naturally need to watch out for in from David Villa, who makes such an impact from standing out on the left hand touch line and launching attacks from there. Spain are a quality side, even though they have not hit their top form. Perhaps that is the most ominous thing about them, that they could explode at any moment. All of their main threats are coming from Villa, who will be lining up against German captain Philip Lahm at right back. That is just one of the key battles, with the other being how much Bastian Schweinsteiger can keep Xavi quiet. Spain have all of the class and control, do they have the mental toughness now to take on the tournaments’ most in form team?

Germany

Germany are arguably the best team in the World Cup, simply because they are playing fearless football. Coach Joachim Loew is reaping the benefits of nearly a half a billion Euro investment in the youth of Germany a decade ago. This was their response to failures in tournaments, and the German FA responded with aggression. Germany are a young side, largely built around the successful Under 21 side, and the young players have shown no problems in making the step up to the full team. There is still a good core of experienced heads in the team, notably top scorer Miroslav Klose and Bastian Schweingsteiger, who is again proving to be one of the best players at the tournament. Miroslav Klose is 2/1 at Paddy Power as Anytime Goalscorer for the Spain v Germany semi final. One wonders if the pace of the German game is down to the injury to veteran Captain Michael Ballack, who was injured before the tournament. He is someone who will slow games down by putting his foot on the ball, but the Germans at the 2010 FIFA World Cup have simply been going straight for the throats of their opponents. There has been not dallying on the ball, it is getting forward at every opportunity, and not being afraid to throw the numbers up in attack. This is a philosophy and approach which works very well when you have young legs to track up and down the pitch all afternoon. Germany to win by one goal is 7/2 at SkyBet

Germany’s Tomas Mueller will be a sad omission from the Spain v Germany semi final, as the creative and dynamic midfielder has been one of the particular bright sparks. He goals he has scored at South Africa 2010 have been the first ones in his young career, giving him a tally of four goals in seven appearances. He only made his full international debut in March during an international friendly against Argentina. Mueller picked up a very harsh yellow card in their quarter final demolition of Argentina, having received it for a supposed deliberate hand ball, which looked anything but. That will rob the Germans of one of their most influential players, but they are still packed with quality and youth going forward. Their 4-2-3-1 formation is something that is working a treat, and Joachim Low has picked players to fit into that formation perfectly. This is not about squeezing players into a team because of who they are, this is building a team which is designed to play a certain way, and Low is picking players who can do specific jobs. That old German efficiency is proving one of their strong points, as well as watching all of the players fight for their team, and do their specific jobs. Loew had stated before their clash with Argentina in the quarter finals, that he had spotted weaknesses in the Argentinean game, things which not many other people had seen. Germany’s ability to break quickly with one touch passing, exploited the weakness of Argentina’s lack of willingness to get their forwards back to help out in defence. The German midfield, notably Schweinsteiger, did a fantastic job of negating the threat of Lionel Messi. Not an easy job, but the sublime number ten simply drifted out of the game, and Argentina could not get the ball forward to Higuain and Tevez. Germany hit the Argentineans hard with a  4-0 victory, their second victory of the 2010 FIFA World Cup by that scoreline.

That is thirteen goals in just five games, and contrast that against Spain’s six. You will see where the bigger attacking threat lies. Germany v Spain will see two teams, two rivals come together which like to keep the ball. If  Spain get deprived of possession again, they will know that Germany pose a much bigger threat in going forward than most of their opponents so far. Del Bosque will have seen how well the Germans completely snuffed out Argentina, who play a very similar style to Spain, so the coach may have a little rethink to do. His main decision will be to stick with the ineffective Fernando Torres or not, or perhaps go with Cesc Fabregas. Fabregas is undergoing a scan on his shoulder after falling awkwardly, but Del Bosque does have other options, in Fernando Llorente or the exciting youngster Pedro. They also have David Silva or Jesus Navas who can come in if they want more men in midfield, so Del Bosque is not short of quality on the bench. Few predicted the journey that the Germans have undertaken, and looking full of confidence, technical ability and hunger, and more like a team that what Spain are, they may be able to continue it, and get some revenge for their Euro 2008 final failure. Germany like to play that high tempo, high pressure game, and defending has to be done from the front. Against Spain they will have plenty of space to play their wide game, and it should be a thrilling encounter, and one that Germany are capable of taking. They may have young fresh players, but they have the World Cup pedigree to do so. This is their tenth semi final appearances, this is Spain’s first.

Spain v Germany Betting Prediction:

There is a stark contrast between the two teams and their coaches. Vicente Del Bosque inherited a team of world class superstars, but Joachim Loew has built his team from nothing. Which is the better route to go? Everything Germany do is as a team, attack and defend even though they have individual stars such as Mueller, Oezil and Klose, they are more of a team, more of a unit than Spain. Germany have placed a lot of faith in their youngster, no doubt something which Fabio Capello will be watching with interest. Even if they lose here, their investments will have paid off. There is a lot to be admired about the Germans, and they should be fearless enough to play their game and take out the Spaniards.
Germany 0 Asian Handicap – Evens at Paddy Power

Argentina v Germany Betting Odds

Argentina to win: 11/8 at BetFred
Draw: 9/4 at Bwin
Germany to win: 12/5 at Stan James
 

Argentina

Argentina have looked dominant at South Africa 2010 so far, and the are reinforcing the strengths which the South American nations are bringing to the tournament. Argentina have not been troubled at all on their progress through the tournament, but you just wonder if they are going to hit a rough patch, and then the question will be, whether or not they can respond? They simply have not been put under enough pressure by any of their opponents so far, and their mental fortitude has not been tested. Mexico did give them some scares early in the last sixteen match, and Argentina could well have found themselves behind. What did Mexico do? They showed no fear and attacked quickly, trying to get the game by the scruff of the neck. However, the near misses were not enough, and sure enough Argentina punished them. Argentina, like all South American teams, cherish possession and keep the ball so that it has to work hard, and the players don’t. That is why they make it all look so easy. Perhaps the only sides from Europe which have the same mentality are Spain and Holland, but Argentina’s quarter final opponents seem to be learning it quickly as well. Germany will represent Argentina’s toughest opponents so far at South Africa 2010, and it is a repeat fixture of the 2006 quarter final in Germany. Argentina will be hoping for a better outcome this time though, as they were defeated on penalties then.

Argentina are confident, and Argentina are strong. They are showing a togetherness and team spirit that has not been there for some time. But things are fine as long as everything is going to plan, but one has to wonder if they will lose their cool, if they were to find themselves behind in a match? The South Americans are naturally a fiery bunch who play up to the referee, and intimidate opposition. Maradona himself is a huge presence on the sidelines and he is one of the lads when it comes to the team, and it is the coach which has found a way to get the best out the best player in the world, Lionel Messi. Argentina set up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Messi filling that hole between midfield and the two forwards, Gonzalo Higuain and Carlos Tevez. They do swap and change around, with Tevez dropping behind Higuain as well, and they become a little hard to pick up. Messi is used in the middle behind the strikers, in the position where he can get a lot of the ball, and the German defensive midfield will naturally have to watch him closely. They do not play a particularly wide game, preferring to pass their way down the middle, but Maradona went with a more defensive 4-4-2 formation against Germany when they played in a friendly match in March. The South American’s won that one by a 1-0 score line, but that was when they were still looking for their best formation, and still building confidence. It is hard to see them breaking ranks with what has worked so well for them so far during the tournament.

Argentina 2010 World Cup Stats
Played: W4, D0, L0
GF/GA: 10/2
Cards: Y5, 2Y0, R0
Most Shots: Lionel Messi, 23
Top Scorer: Gonzalo Higuain, 4
Shots/On Goal: 75/36 (#1 on overall chart)
Fouls Committed: 45
Total Passes: 2403
Passes Completed: 1848 (77% success rate #3 on overall chart)

Germany

Germany have a lot of aces in their pack, although they are largely inexperienced ones. The approach which Ghana and Germany have taken towards the World Cup 2010, has been a little different to most teams, as they are investing heavily in their youth. The powers that be at the of head German football, invested millions in promoting youth academies and getting their youth to develop their creative and technical skills, after a failure at Euro 2000. Germany now boasts one of the highest rates of qualified coaching staff in Europe, and a mere decade later they are reaping the benefits of this incredibly large investment which was over half a billion Euros. The idea was to concentrate fully on promoting the development of the country’s best youth in order to give a fresh outlook on football, and to be able to compete on the world stage. The fact that they have taken their youngest squad ever to the World Cup, and are in the quarter finals of the tournament thanks to playing a bold, attacking style of football, is to their credit. The Germans were not about to be left behind and let their promising talent go to waste by having creative skills coached out of them.  Germany embraced a new attacking philosophy in their style of football, and after reaching the final of Euro 2008 the country definitely is heading in the right direction. It is not only the youthful exuberance which is paying dividends for Germany, it is the confidence in their own style of play which is driving them forward. They are not going to be perfect because of their lack of inexperience, with the average age of the squad around 25 years old only. But it means they have a brave and bold side which are prepared to take on the best with out much fear.

This match will re-ignite memories of the epic struggle of the quarter finals of Germany 2006 when the Europeans triumphed in a penalty shoot out. Even though the German side are now even younger than then, coach Joachim Loew insists that they are fully confident in their own abilities, and that he has spotted weaknesses in the Argentinean machine. Loew has almost a fully fit squad to take into the match, with only striker Cacau still suffering from a strain. This is young German side who are blessed with the youngsters who won the Under 21 European Championships in 2008. This is the reward that they are seeing for the heavy investment in youth from the ground level up. Germany need to attack, and they really have nothing to fear against Argentina, who sparked angry scenes between the two sets of players in their 2006 quarter final clash. So what may these weaknesses be in Argentina? Surely the South Americans have been much lauded as one of the favourites for the tournament and therefore have no chinks in their armour? There are two things which could see Germany through this match. The first one is temperament. Looking at the stylish Joachim Loew you can feel the air of calmness emanating from them, and that is exactly what the young team needs. The older players like Bastian Schweinsteiger and Miroslav Klose need to not let the antics of the Argentineans effect how the Germans play. The Argentineans have already lost their cool in a half time bust up with the Mexicans, and they are known for their antics in winding up opposition. The German youth need to avoid any mental games and get on with their job, and that job needs to be attacking Argentina down the flanks.

The second thing is that Argentina do not have great full backs, nor a particularly strong centre half pairing come to that. Because Argentina like to go through the middle though, predominantly through Messi and the two holding midfielders, Germany need to open them up and do what they have been doing all tournament. The Germans need to use the width of Polodski and Mueller on the wings to put pressure on the Argentinean defence out wide. It is in those areas which the South Americans look the weakest and that will create a whole lot more space for Klose to poach goals, as well as letting Mesut Oezil display his incredible eye for picking out an attacking pass. These young Germans are winners, as shown at the Euro Under 21’s in 2008. At their young age they have shown a lot of composure, and can be fairly confident of winning this one. It is likely that they will need to do it in regulation time though, as the pressure of penalties may prove a little too overwhelming for the youngsters. There is a question of fitness too, in which the Germans should also have the edge, and there is a strong chance they will move onto an all European semi against Spain.

Germany World Cup 2010 Stats
Played: W3, D0, L1
GF/GA: 9/2
Cards: Y7, 2Y1, R0
Most Shots: Lukas Podolski, 16
Top Scorer: Thomas Mueller, 3
Shots/On Goal: 61/27 (#9 on overall chart)
Fouls Committed: 41
Total Passes: 2239
Passes Completed: 1697 (76% success rate #5 on overall chart)

Germany v Argentina Betting Prediction: Germany to win by 1 goal 4/1 at Bet365
 

Current Argentina v Germany Odds:

Betting Guide to Germany

Germany again showed just why they are such a potential threat to the outright favourites in World Cup Betting, as they put on a show in beating England. But, when it comes down to the nitty gritty, did England simply make Germany look much better than they really are? Or are Germany a class above. What the Germans have is youth and youth very often equals inexperience. But, joining Ghana in the last eight, two of the youngest squads in the entire tournament are not letting inexperience count for anything. Simply if their players are good enough, then they are going to be pulling on the national jersey. So where does this leave Germany in terms of World Cup betting? Have Germany looked anything other than an average side, made to look better by opposition? They demolished Australia and England, but found the going much tougher against Ghana when they were match for speed and ambition. More importantly, as they go into their quarter final match against Argentina, will they have the upper hand in attack over the South Americans?

The last time the two countries met, was in an international friendly in Germany in March. Argentina won that one 1-0, but switched from an attacking formation to a defensive one, very cleverly and deliberately to counter the attacking threat from the Germans. It was also the Germans who knocked the South Americans out at the quarter final stages at the 2006 World Cup. There is good history, and some good current form to suggest that this will be something of a spectacle. You have two of the best attacking sides at the tournament coming together, and while Germany do not quite look to have the stability and consistency of a world beating team, perhaps it is their unpredictability which makes them such a threat. They triumphed against Ghana when the result could have been so very different, and that shows the ability to win when backs are against the wall. The old factor of grinding out results as well as demolishing teams. Perhaps the defeat against Serbia served them well, and brought them down to earth after their thrashing of Australia. Germany lost Klose to a second bookable offence, and missed a penalty, so while they were defeated, they had their chances with ten men.

Tactics: Germany play one of the more expansive modern systems at the World Cup, and was one of the reasons why England had a lot of problems with them. They essentially go with a 4-5-1 with the immensely talented youngster Mesut Oezil sitting in front of the midfield, and just behind lone striker Miroslav Klose. With holding midfielders in the centre in Sami Khedira and Bastian Schweinsteiger, Germany get the most out of the full width of the pitch by playing two wide men, which stretch defences. Out on the wings are Lucas Podolski and Thomas Mueller, which puts a strong attacking influence on the team, but the balance in the middle of the park, essentially a triangle of three players, means that they are still able to out number a 4-4-2 in the midfield area, which is exactly what they did against England. They always seem to have an extra man in space when it matters and the system works great for breaking quickly on the counter attack. The way to counter the German system would be to match them in numbers in the midfield. Both Serbia and Ghana did it to some extent (although slightly differently) and that is why they both gave Germany a tough time. As with any system though, you have to have the right personnel to do the job. Germany have it, because of youthful confidence in themselves. They play the ball quickly on the deck and are bold. Fortune favours the brave as they say.
 
Coach: Joachim Loew – the current coach was Jurgen Klinsmann’s right hand man when he was at the helm of Germany. Loew, even from back then is credited with being the tactical genius which has taken German football forward. Since around 2004, Germany have taken on a much more positive offensive mindset to their matches, and they have embraced attacking talent. Fortuately for them, the coach has had a wealth of youngsters to call upon, and he has not been afraid to use them. Players like Oezil were pivotal to Germany’s Under 21 success on the World Stage, and Loew took Germany’s youngest ever World Cup squad to South Africa. It may have been bold, but that is what German football is all about at the moment.

Germany World Cup 2010 Stats

Results:
Germany 4, England 1
Germany 1, Ghana 0
Germany 0, Serbia 1
Germany 4, Australia 0

Goals: 9 For, 2 Against
Cards: Y7, SY1, R0
Top Passer: Bastien Schweinsteiger (Passes 298 Completion Rate 81%)
Most Fouls: Bastian Schweinsteiger 8

Last 10 Match Germany Form: WDDLWWWLWW

Probable Route to Winning the 2010 FIFA World Cup: Argentina (Q/F), Spain (S/F), Brazil (F)

Germany Betting Tips

Stage of Elimination
Quarter Finals: 7/10 at Bwin
Semi Finals: 15/4 at Bwin
Winners: 7/1 at Bet365
Runners Up: 8/1 at Bet365

To Reach Final
No – 5/9 at Bwin
Yes – 5/2 at Bwin

Germany’s Top Goalscorer at Ladbrokes
Thomas Mueller 6/5 (3 goals)
Miroslav Klose 5/2 (2 goals)
Lucas Podolski 5/2 (2 goals)
Mesut Oezil 6/1 (1 goal)
Cacau 10/1 (1 goal)

Tip: Germany are capable of beating Argentina. There, it is out there, it has been said. Because they are a positive side, and because Argentina have shown signs that there are holes to be exposed in their defence, Germany are capable of scoring against them. Their own defence has held up quite well, and they should be evenly matched against Argentina. It will all depend on what Argentina do really, whether Maradona switches to a defensive 4-4-2, or sticks with his attacking 4-3-1-2. What it all really could come down to, is the match up between Oezil and Messi, who is more influential on the day. German have the attacking power to push the Argentineans back, and if the space is open on the pitch, then it could be a fantastic exhibition of football, with either team being able to sneak it.
Betting Tip: Germany +0.50 Asian Handicap 5/8 at Bet365

Penalty Shoot Out Looming For Old Foes?

Bloemfontein is the battle ground at the 2010 FIFA World Cup on Sunday, as the big England v Germany fixture kicks off. This is the coming together again of two proud nations from the Old Continent, and once again someone will be crying at the end of the match. Paul Gascoigne’s tears in 1990 are one of the most enduring images of England v Germany World Cup clashes, and now England will be hoping to be spared any more tears as they attempt to outshoot their old foes. It has not been an impressive campaign so far for England in front of goal, while the Germans have looked quite strong in going forward with their young side. SportingBet are firing up the rivalry, with their England v Germany 20:10 promotion.

When you place a bet of £20 or more at SportingBet on the England v Germany match, the online bookmaker will give you a Free £10 bet if your bet loses. It matters not whether you back England or Germany, just as long as the bet loses, then you will be compensated by getting a free bet to use on any other World Cup market at SportingBet. Place a bet of £20 or more on England v Germany match prices market (singles or accumulators qualify – and all bets must be at odds of 1.2 or greater). If your bet loses, SportingBet will look after you by refunding you a free £10. So, if you are going to back England at 4/5 to beat the Germans, and they fail to, then £10 will be coming back to you. Of course, there is always the threat of the dreaded penalties now arising during the World Cup knockout stages. You can always pick up prices on either team to win on penalties. You can pick England or Germany to win on penalties at a price of 9/1 at SportingBet.

England v Germany SportingBet Odds
Germany to win: 7/4
Draw: 39/20
England: 13/8

England v Germany World Cup History
1966 – England 4, West Germany 2 (AET)
1970 – England 2, West Germany 3 (AET)
1982 – England 0, West Germany 0
1990 – England 1, West Germany 1 (3-4 penalties)

Interesting Penalty Shoot Out Titbits:

• Ball at altitude in the final at Johannesburg travels 5% faster than at sea level
• Germany have the best World Cup Penalty Record = W4, L0
• England have the worst World Cup Penalty Record = W0, L3
• It is mathematically harder to save a penalty than it is to hit a baseball
• It is mathematically and physically impossible for a goalkeeper to save a penalty if they wait until the ball is actually kicked (well, unless they stand still and it is kicked directly into them). With a well taken penalty to the corner, there is not enough time for a goalkeeper to spot the direction of the ball, for their muscles to fire and to reach a goalpost on either side. We are talking in milliseconds here, but by the time the ball is halfway to the goal, that is when the goalkeeper will spot its flight. That does not leave enough time for him to dive. So that is why goalkeepers need to guess and go for it before the player kicks the ball.
• Goalkeepers guess right 57% of the time (that doesn’t mean they save them, just guess the right direction)
• Only 22% of World Cup Penalties have been saved
• In the last five World Cups goalkeepers wearing green have a 38% record saving penalties. Goalies wearing black have a 35% record, and goalkeepers wearing red have a 0% record. Nope, no goalie wearing red has ever stopped a World Cup penalty.
• Strikers score 74% of their kicks, midfielders net 58% of their kicks and defenders fire in 69% of penalty kicks.
• Older players tend to miss more, with under 23’s hitting 85% of their spot kicks, while anyone above has just a 71% record.
• Right footed players have a higher conversion record than left footed penalty takers (69% to 50%)
   

World Cup Betting overlooked high Scoring Germans

One of the most highly anticipated matches, in the whole of the group stages takes place on Friday, with the heavyweight European clash between Germany and Serbia. Serbia have been heavily tipped in World Cup betting as dark horses which could really spring a surprise or two, but it was the Germans who made the biggest splash in the opening round of matches, as they trounced the Socceroos of Australia 4-0. For some reason, no one really saw that coming, and no one has really been behind the challenge of the Germans, who, after their victory, saw their outright odds for winning the World Cup shorten immediately at online bookmakers. That’s understandable, as they were the first, and really the only team to set out a marker by playing some clinical attacking football. Granted, the Australian football team are not great opponents, but as shown in the World Cup, the underdogs have faring quite well, and the Germans were expected to face a solid wall of green and gold. However, with Miroslav Klose getting on the score sheet, after being out of form for his club Bayern Munich, and Lukas Podolski running things up front, the Germans overwhelmed the Australians. Germany have the second youngest squad at the World Cup, with an average age of around 25. That is their personal youngest ever squad taken to the World Cup finals, and while it raised doubts over their experience, their youthful enthusiasm certainly shone through. So did their slick tactical ability and hunger for goal. Germany had scored three goals in each of their final two warm up matches, so the signs were there. They topped their European qualification group, with a crucial away victory in Russia, yet no one has really backed them. The news of their injuries, such as Michael Ballack and number one keeper Rene Adler would have kept them back in World Cup odds, but the Germans have such a strong pedigree, its tough to see them not reaching the quarter finals at least. There will now be doubts over whether they will peak too early, after being notoriously slow starters in tournament football. Whatever happens, coach Joachim Loew has assembled a very strong, very disciplined, very organised and goal hungry squad, which could cause problems to any other nation participating. Serbia will provide a stern test of just how good they are, as the Serbians are a big, physical side with a lot of craft. Will the German defence stand up to this extra pressure? They know Serbia will come out strong, as they need a win, but by the same standard, a second win for the Germans would book them a place in the next round.

Germany World Cup Betting: Can the Germans keep their strong start going. They have had their World Cup betting outright odds cut to 7/1 at Bet365, which is now shorter than England. They will have a harder match against Serbia than they did against the Aussies. It still should be worth going over 2.5 Goals for Evens at SkyBet, which is pretty decent value. This should be a pulsating, exciting encounter, so goals should come. Miroslav Klose is 13/10 at Bet365 for Anytime Scorer, and Lukas Podolski is 13/8 at Coral in the same market. Germany look strong and organised all over the pitch, and are carrying good form. Therefore that should influence your Asian Handicap Betting.
Germany Asian Handicap Betting Tip: -0.75 for 11/10 at Paddy Power

Germany World Cup 2010 Stats
Played: P1, W1, D0, L0
GF/GA: 4/0
Cards: Y2, R0
Most Shots: Miroslav Klose, 5
Top Scorer: Four Players, 1
Shots/On Goal: 16/10
Fouls Committed: 10
Total Passes: 618
Pass Completion: 77%
Last 5 Form: DLWWW

Serbia to show no fear after crushing first defeat

Serbia lost their opening match to Ghana in a, crushing and cruel way. It really wasn’t what they deserved out of the match, but they capitulated near the end in their opener against Ghana. A red card and handball inside the area, gave Ghana the one chance they needed from sixteen yards. Ghana buried the penalty kick, which left Serbia reeling. Serbia had their chances, and it was not what was expected from the strong World Cup dark horses tip. Now those rash last fifteen minutes means they take on Germany, knowing that nothing less that a victory will really suffice. Serbia won their European qualification group ahead of France, and they should not be short of goals. But their confidence will have been dented by the defeat by Ghana, as they went into the match as quiet favourites to take all three points, and the players themselves will have felt like they let themselves and their nation down. Now they have to pick themselves up against one of the most impressive looking teams at the tournament, and they will need star striker Milan Jovanovic to start firing, and firing quickly. Do they have the tools in their box necessary to bring down the Germans? One really has to believe that they do, if they turn up and play to their full potential. They should be fired up as they cannot afford to show any fear of losing the match, and take the play to Germany at every opportunity. Serbia can play some fancy football through the middle of the park, or battle it out in an aerial contest at the back. This a game where everything can be lost, and everything gain be gained. Serbia could find themselves down and out, whilst Germany could be sailing through to the second round. But a Serbian victory, while not a major shock, would certainly set the cat amongst the pigeons. If that happens, then it will leave the group in a fascinating position, where everything would be up for grabs in the final group matches. This is match World Cup betting tipsters would have been focusing on before the tournament started, believing that Serbia’s impressive form could be the downfall of Germany. Everything will be revealed on Friday, in this real heavyweight of a match in Group D. Remember, it is from this group, where England’s second round opponents would come from, if England can secure passage through themselves.

Serbia World Cup Betting: The Serbians need to come out gunning, and they do have the ability to do so, and how they perform will help us gauge the Germans even better. They know they can show no fear and they can’t sit back and let the Germans take over possession in the middle. Their best chance is keeping the game open and trusting themselves. Not sure what approach they will take up front, whether they will use the height of Nikola Zigic or not. Zigic is 3/1 at Bet365 for Anytime Scorer, and the more dangerous Milan Jovanovic is 9/2 at SkyBet to get on the score sheet as well, and a better bet. For the game itself, the question of how much did their poor finish to the Ghana match take out of them?
Serbia Asian Handicap Betting Tip: +0.75 for Evens at Paddy Power

Serbia World Cup 2010 Stats
Played: P1, W0, D0, L1
GF/GA: 0/1
Cards: Y2, R1
Most Shots: Four Players, 2
Top Scorer: N/A
Shots/On Goal: 13/2
Fouls Committed: 10
Total Passes: 458
Pass Completion: 72%
Last 5 Form: WLDWL

Germany v Serbia Match Odds

Germany to win: 4/6 at BetFred
Draw: 3/1 at Bwin
Serbia to win: 5/1 at Bet365