FOOTBALL BETTING: Live on ITV1: Sun 15.00: England and Germany meet again in knockout competition; an old rivalry will be stoked up and the players will surely be keen to avoid extra time and penalties.
Most of the country will grind to a halt around 3pm on Sunday as those greatest of footballing rivals meet once again in a World Cup. As England and Germany struggled to qualify from their respective groups, both will believe they have an opportunity to secure a place in the last eight, though it’s England, priced at 17/10 by Betfred, who are the favourites; the Germans are bet365’s marginal 15/8 underdogs.
In fact, Germany have a slight advantage in these mammoth duels, having beaten England 12 times and lost ten in 27 meetings dating back to 1930; five have been drawn and the odds against it being level at 90 minutes are a tempting 11/5 (Partybets) – which would mean, of course, that the prospect of penalties was once again on the horizon…
With that glorious 5-1 exception when England played like world beaters for the first time in a generation one night in Munich, the last nine meetings of the pair have either been drawn or settled by a single goal, a record which adds considerable appeal to Victor Chandler’s 13/2 for Fabio Capello’s charges to secure a 1-0 win – as well as to 888sport’s hefty 10/1 posted against a 2-1 English success.
Indeed, in what promises to be another extremely close affair, Totesport’s 5/4 for the opening 45 minutes to conclude with honours even looks enormously attractive. For those who concur, 888sport’s massive 14/1 for the game’s opening strike to arrive after the 76th minute has already tempted a sizeable number of punters and will continue to do so as kick off time approaches.
Not surprisingly, the usual suspects dominate the first goalscorer market, headed by Wayne Rooney, a 5/1 shot with Betfred. Elsewhere, England’s hero against Slovenia, Jermaine Defoe, is 8/1 (Jaxx.com), while Germany’s Miroslav Klose is 7/1 according to William Hill. Chelsea’s Frank Lampard is 9/1 (Victor Chandler) to net first and a tasty-looking 11/1 (William Hill) to win the Man of the Match award.
Klose and the rest of the German team started the tournament well, with a resounding triumph over a leggy Australia, but they stuttered thereafter; England were average against the USA, dire against Algeria, but performed with great spirit when facing Slovenia. If this form can be carried into Sunday’s encounter, they’re capable of overhauling a German side in transition and Jaxx.com offers 4/1 about them leading at the end of both halves.
In other markets, Ladbrokes rates the chances of England retaining a clean sheet at 2/1 and William Hill post 17/10 about the match yielding fewer than three goals. Meanwhile, bet365 chalk 3/1 about England enjoying a one goal margin of victory – although Paddy Power rate the chances of either side missing a penalty at 10/1.
We’ve learnt not to underestimate the Germans, hence the support given to Stan James’s 5/1 for it to finish 1-1 at 90 minutes, though Betdaq still price England as their 10/11 favourites to ultimately qualify. And to win on penalties? They’re 9/1 according to Totesport.
Compare all England v Germany Odds and bet at the best prices.
Recommended bets:
England to qualify: 10/11 (Betdaq)
England to retain a clean sheet: 2/1 (Ladbrokes)
Wayne Rooney to score: 11/8 (Victor Chandler)
