Germany v USA
GERMANY TO EDGE HOME
Steffan Jones, readaBet.com
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2002-06-21
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View Germany/USA Best Odds
Very few people would have predicted this as a potential quarter final. Both teams struggled in qualifying and were drawn in difficult groups for the finals. Germany were supposed to be a pale shadow of their former selves while USA were supposed to be little better than the team that lost all three games in France 1998. Now one of these two unfancied sides will be playing in the semi-finals of the World Cup. Unsurprisingly Germany are 8/13 to win inside 90 minutes while USA trail behind at 11/2, a draw is on offer at 23/10.
The two teams played against each other as recently as March, when Germany won 4-2 at home in Rostock. Clint Mathis scored both goals in that match as the USA took a one goal lead, and he is 12/1 to score first on Friday. Although Mathis was dropped from the starting line up against Paraguay, a better bet may be on Landon Donovan who has scored in the last two games and is currently 14/1 to score first.
It is as expected to find Germany’s Miroslav Klose as 7/2 favourite to open the scoring. The Kaiserslautern striker has been a revelation this tournament and has managed five goals in four games. Klose however was less prominent against Paraguay largely due to a disappointing performance from Michael Ballack on whose service he has depended.
This probably won’t be the most exciting of the last eight matches taking place, particularly when compared to England v Brazil which takes place earlier in the day. Both sides play a very similar style of football which is more effective than inspiring. Neither team has particularly skillful players but both are well prepared, solid and organised. This all adds up to a match where the result will be won by no more than a goal or two, especially as both sides have two outstanding goalkeepers in Brad Friedel and Oliver Kahn who are in excellent form.
It is strange that both teams have been incredibly inconsistent in the tournament so far, decent performances have generally been followed by poor showings in the next game. This may be of some concern to the United States who produced one of their best displays against Mexico, while Germany looked poor against Paraguay.
Rudi Voller will welcome Carsten Ramelow, Dietmar Hamann and Christian Ziege back into the team after returning from suspension. He will hope that Ramelow will stiffen up the midfield cutting off the supply chain to the pacy American forwards. Hamann should also offer some creativity to a Germany attack that was noticeably short on opportunities against Paraguay. Germany will be confident of making the semis although they should remember that in the last two World Cups they have made it to the quarter finals only to be beaten by under-dog opposition in the form of Croatia in France 1998 and Bulgaria in USA 1994. |
| Betting Verdict |
0.5pts Germany to beat USA 1-0 at 6/1 (Ukbetting)
0.5pts Germany to beat USA 2-0 at 6/1 (Bluesq)
Bruce Arena will urge his players to start the game in the same way as they did against Portugal, by playing direct, fast paced football. They are likely to come unstuck if they try to play a game of attrition, Germany specialise in this type of match and would have a better chance of wearing the opposition down. If both teams do play this way then buying the quote of 37-40 mins for the first goal could be quite attractive. However at the end of ninety minutes, it would not be the greatest of surprises should the triple World Cup winners be winning 1-0 or 2-0. Both score lines can be backed at a best price of 6/1. |
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