Euro 2012
2012-06-09 - Germany vs Portugal
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: Euro 2012 Group B
Saturday 9 June 2012 - Kick Off 7:45pm
This game is live on TV
Preview
This is one of the ties of the early stages of the Euro 2012 tournament as the 'group of death' really begins. The Germans are one of the favourites to win the whole tournament, while Portugal have been ruled out in most quarters as most expect their opponents and Holland to get out of the group.
Portugal will feel they can get a lot going if they can avoid defeat in this game, especially considering they play Denmark next. However, they will know they cannot take anything for granted having finished below Denmark in the qualification section for this tournament and needing a win over Bosnia to get to this stage.
It is no understatement to suggest that Portugal are not as talented as the sides of the last decade that were consistently pegged as dark horses to win some of the major international tournaments they took part in.
They haven't been great in the friendlies leading to this event, but any team that has Cristiano Ronaldo in the line up has to be respected.
Germany are under a lot of expectation to win the tournament having won all ten qualifying games to get to this stage as well as being the World Cup Semi Finalists from 2010 and also reaching the Final of the 2008 European Championships.
They have suffered some tough defeats like to Switzerland in the friendly matches they have played, but Germany are still likely to be confident. It will be interesting to see how they cope knowing a lot of their squad is trying to recover from the disappointment of losing to Chelsea in the Champions League and they have already had long seasons.
However, I think there is plenty of depth in their squad which makes them one of the favourites to win the event and I wouldn't want to back against them right now. Their biggest obstacles are likely to come later in the tournament if they can get through this group as the partnership with group A should see them through to the last 4.
Head to Head
This is the first meeting between the teams since Germany beat Portugal 3-2 in the Quarter Final of Euro 2008.
Portugal beat Germany back in Euro 2000, but they haven't played much in the last 13 years with the other result being a Germany win in a friendly.
Prediction
I think Germany are the right favourites to win this match, but I don't want to back them at the prices as I would like to see how they are feeling, particularly the Bayern Munich players that suffered such disappointment in the Champions League Final.
Portugal are no pushovers, but I think they will be happy to keep this tight and try and avoid defeat if they can to put them in a decent position in the group with two games left, including one against the weakest, but not to be under-estimated, Denmark side.
Early games in the European Championships tend to be lower scoring affairs too as neither side wants to give too much away so the Under looks the best call in this game.
Both teams have great attacking talents, but I can't help think that the fear of losing will make this a tense game and not allow for the free-flowing football that some may expect. I might regret it by half time, but the unders looks the call.
The Pick :
Germany 1-0 Portugal
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll take the Under 2.25 Goals @ 2.10
