All about the Germany Team at Football World Cup 2018
As World Cup holders, following their triumph at the 2014 tournament in Brazil, Germany are joint-favourites to win this year’s World Cup alongside the Brazilians. Between them, Germany and Brazil have won the World Cup nine times, with the win for the Europeans four years ago putting them just one behind Brazil’s total of five. Bookmakers naturally expect Germany to go far into the tournament – and for a very good reason. Apart from the surprise quarter-finals defeats against Bulgaria and Croatia in 1994 and 1998, Germany have finished in the top three in every tournament since 1978.
Tips for Betting on Germany in the World Cup 2018
Germany will be fully expected to storm through Group F at this summer’s tournament in Russia – they are best-priced 1/2 (1.50) to win a group that also consists of Mexico (6/1/7.00) to win the group, Sweden (8/1/9.00) and South Korea (20/1/21.00). The Germany/Mexico dual forecast for them both to finish in the top two catches the eye at 11/8 (2.38), while the Germany first/Mexico second double is available at 9/4 (3.25).
Thomas Muller just missed out on the Golden Boot four years ago with five goals – the Bayern Munich man is now around 30/1 (31.00) to win that accolade this year. RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner, who has been targeted by Real Madrid is the shortest-priced German, best priced around 16/1 (17.00) in a market led by the familiar trio of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar. Muller and Werner share the same 7/2 (4.50) odds that they are Germany’s top scorers ahead of new Bayern Munich man Sandro Wagner (5/1/6.0) with Schalke’s Leon Goretzka and veteran Mario Gomez, now at Stuttgart, both 12/1 (13.0).
If Germany do make the final again, the bookies seem to fancy them to face Brazil – it’s a 12/1 (13.0) shot that the teams that contested the 2014 semi-final meet again and 14/1 (15.0) that Germany face France – a repeat of the Euro 2016 semi-final. Germany are 11/4 (3.75) to be top European team, ahead of France (7/2/4.50), Spain (5/1/6.00) and Belgium (8/1/9.0) and as big as 7/1 (8.00) to be eliminated in the group stage, which surely will not happen. It’s 7/2 (4.50) the Germans go out in the last 16, 7/2 (4.50) they exit in the quarter-final and 9/2 (5.50) they are losing semi-finalists.
Betting Odds on Germany to Win the World Cup 2018
Ever since Mario Gotze’s extra-time winner gave the Germans the trophy after beating Argentina in Brazil’s Maracana, they have been favourites to retain the trophy. You can get a general 5/1 (6.00) that they win the trophy, with most bookies quoting the same price on Brazil. France (6/1/7.00), Spain (8/1/9.00) and Argentina (9/1/10.00) are next in the betting order.
Germany are 5/2 (3.50) to reach the final and 1/2 (1.50) to make it to the semi-final stage. That 5/1 (6.00) price is unlikely to waver much between now and Germany’s first game against Mexico on June 17, so it may pay to wait until just before the tournament for bookmakers to lengthen their odds as part of special offers.
Expected Germany Lineup at the World Cup
Germany romped through qualification for this year’s World Cup, winning all ten games, scoring 43 goals and conceding four goals and clearly have a wealth of talent to call upon to make up their 23-man squad.
One of the most interesting battles will be for the number one jersey with 2014 World Cup Golden Glove winner Manuel Neuer, out for the last third of 2017 with a foot injury, making his way back into playing again with just a few months left before the final squad is chosen. Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, enjoying a great season with a dominant Barcelona in La Liga is the man Neuer needs to dislodge. The third place in the squad is expected to be between Leverkusen’s Bernd Leno, who was in goal for the last qualifier against Azerbaijan and Paris St Germain’s Kevin Trapp. At the back, some of the main stars of the 2014 winning squad remain in Mats Hummels, who started the final and is likely to form the spine of the defence and fellow starter Jerome Boateng expected to figure. Squad man from 2014 Matthias Ginter is a likely starter at fullback with Joshua Kimmich, Jonas Hector and Arsenal’s Shkodran Mustafi possible contenders at the back along with Chelsea’s Antonio Rudiger.
The Germans are spilling over at the edges with midfield talent in Julian Draxler, Emre Can, Sami Khedira, Leon Goretzka, Julian Brandt, Toni Kroos, Mesut Ozil, Sebastian Rudy, Thomas Muller, Ilkay Gundogan and Leroy Sane. There are also a trio of forgotten men all at Borussia Dortmund who are now very much on the fringes – Marco Reus along with the two players that set up the winning goal in the final four years ago in Andre Schurrle and Mario Gotze. All three have much to prove if they are to make the cut in Russia. Up front for the Germans are a selection from relatively inexperienced at international level trio Sandro Wagner, Timo Werner and Lars Stindl, who starred in last year’s Confederations Cup win. Veteran striker Mario Gomez still harbours ambitions of making the squad.
As with most teams at this summer’s World Cup, Germany will probably line up in a 3-5-2 formation utilizing wing-backs or out-and-out wingers, depending on the strength of their opposition. Neither Mexico, Sweden or South Korea will be seen as formidable opponents and with the Korea game coming last, Germany will be keen to have qualification for the second phase in the bag after their first two matches.
Expect an attack-minded German team to kick off against Mexico with Hummels at the centre of a back three alongside Ginter and Kimmich. On the flanks, there are options galore with the likes of Hector or Brandt offering more defensive cover or the all-out attack of Sane on the left.
The centre of midfield is usually solid if unspectacular with two of Khedira, Can, Kroos, and a deep-lying Thomas Muller possible options along with a flair player like Ozil, Draxler or Goretzka. Up front, Joachim Low is expected to go for the goal threat of Timo Werner, possibly paired with the up-and-coming Stindl, although there is also the possibility that one of the aforementioned attacking midfielders could provide his partner.
In the later stages of the tournament, when games are traditionally tighter and teams are not so open to attack each other from the off, we could expect to see the Germans deploying a 4-1-4-1 formation with Khedira or Can likely to be in the holding midfield role in front of the back four. This would then give Germany the option to play two out-and-out centre-backs and give them an extra dimension at set-plays with the aerial power of Antonio Rudiger or Hummels a potential goalscoring threat.
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Thomas Muller
It’s hard to believe that Thomas Muller is still only 28, such has been his star role in the German team since bursting onto the scene at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. As a raw 20-year-old, the Bayern Munich hitman scored five times in that tournament as his team made it to third place. Four years ago, Muller hit another five goals as the Germans won the tournament, including the first goal in the 7-1 rout of Brazil. That goal was his last at a major tournament after failing to hit the net at Euro 2016. Now playing in a deeper role, he remains a serious goal threat.
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Leroy Sane
Premier League scoring sensation Leroy Sane will be looking to carry his brilliant 2017/2018 form into the World Cup. The Manchester City winger only made his national team debut in November 2015 but made the Euro 2016 squad, playing the last 11 minutes against France in the semi-final. Strong and pacey, Sane is likely to be the main threat for the Germans on the left as they defend their title. Expect assists aplenty and goals galore from the 22-year-old.
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