World Cup
2010-06-27 - England vs Germany
A Sports Betting Pick by Lamps
Football : FIFA World Cup 2010 : Round of 16
Sunday 27th June 2010
England
Last 5 England International Results :W3-D2-L0 F7-A3
Pressure? What pressure?! Capello’s men produced their best display of the World Cup to comfortably beat Slovenia in their must win clash which has led to this huge last 16 tie against their old rivals Germany.
The performance itself I’m sure wouldn’t have sent a message to the rest of the nations competing but I think internally it has been seen as a huge improvement and something which this side will surely build from. After drawing to the U.S and Algeria in two dull, lack-luster encounters the Three Lions dictated the game against Slovenia and played with a higher work rate and passion which was evidently missing in their opening two games.
Before the Slovenia game, the nation and the press were very much against England following Terry’s controversial interview prior to the game but if anything it appears to have draw the side together (despite the press believing the squad was internally falling apart).
Now whilst England’s own performance was much, much better it still isn’t up to the level that it needs to be if they want to win the World Cup and I believe we will see them raise their level again in the upcoming Germany game as the “star” players can finally make an impact on this World Cup and come into their own.
Rooney for one is a player that has looked very average so far and rumours are his ankle is a big banged up and this is why he’s not been at the races so to speak. But even so, when watching him run he doesn’t seem in discomfort and I believe it’s a confidence thing, if Rooney can get a goal against Germany his confidence will sky rocket and then the rest of competition will start to worry.
The service is starting to come for England with Milner putting in lots of testing deliveries against Slovenia and having Gerrard on the other side it’s just a matter of time before Rooney will have “his chance”.
Team news is that Capello is likely to go with what worked last time meaning James will start in goal with a back four of Cole, Upson, Terry, and Johnson in front of him. I must also point out that Terry and Upson were superb against Slovenia and made some fantastic tackles, if England are going to shut the Germans out they will need to produce similar displays for sure. The midfield will consist of Milner, Lampard, Barry, Gerrard and up top Rooney supported by Defoe who must be high on confidence following his winning goal against the Slovenians.
Predicted England Lineup :
James, Cole, Terry, Upson, Johnson, Barry, Lampard, Gerrard, Milner, Rooney, Defoe
Germany
Last 5 German International Results : W4-D0-L1 F11-A2
Joachim Loew’s come into this last 16 tie on good form, winning 2 of their 3 group games and losing just the one which in my opinion was due to them having just 10 men for large parts of it. Like England, Germany needed a result in their last game to get to this match and they produced it, smoothly beating Ghana 1-0 without really being tested by the African side.
Up next against England, Germany face their toughest match so far of these World Cup Finals and it will be interesting to see just how good this youngest German World Cup squad of all time copes against a side as good as England.
Germany were the team of the first round of matches as they thrashed Australia 4-0, many said well they did have 11 v 10 but Loew’s side were already 2-0 up and cruising before Cahill’s sending off. Up next as I mentioned above was the defeat to Serbia in a game that Klose stupidly got sent off but even though it was 11 v 10 against Germany, it was they who looked the better side.
Podolski was guilty of not only missed some glorious chances but he also missed a penalty! Yes! German players can miss them it seems! Finally to wrap up the group Ghana were disposed of in a very efficient display curiosity of a fantastic left footed strike from promising younger Ozil.
This side is playing quick 2-3 touch football and with lots of good movement in attacking areas. Loew has adjusted his lineup to accommodate the likes of Ozil and Muller who I didn’t know much about before this World Cup but they certainly have caught the eye.
Playing in a 4-2-3-1, the two defensive midfielders are Khedira and Schweinsteiger whilst Pololski operates on the left with Muller on the right allowing Ozil to play almost in a free role.
This leaves Klose up front alone who has the luxery of some first class service coming his way. Klose scored and made a goal against Australia and before being sent off against Serbia he looked very lively despite a poor season at Bayern, he returns for this game and will be hungry to redeem himself.
Other team news is that Cacau a striker that would only have made an impact from the bench is out and there are two major doubts over defender Boateng who has just signed for Man City and the key midfield lynchpin that is Bastian Schweinsteiger who has a tight hamstring.
Schweinsteiger is a key player for Germany, he dictates the pace in the middle of the park and takes the set pieces if he fails a late fitness test the England midfield already has a huge advantage in this game and this is where the game could be won. At the moment we believe Schweinsteiger will miss this game as Loew has already stated he wants players 100% fit not 90% and I can’t see how the Bayern midfielder will be 100% in time for Sunday.
Predicted Germany Lineup :
Neuer, Friedrich, Mertsacker, Boateng, Lahm, Khedira, Trochowski, Ozil, Muller, Podolski, Klose.
Verdict
With England already having a stronger midfield anyways, the potential absence or a not fully fit Schweinsteiger suggests to me that England are a good bet to win this game in 90 minutes.
So often the midfield battle wins these tight games and given the circumstances I like England in this one.
Good Luck.
The Pick :
England 2-1 Germany
BEST BETTING TIP :
Take England to win at 2.80 Betsson at a big price
Gooner’s Statistical Value Bet
Or England to Qualify at 1.90
