France vs. Germany – World Cup Match Preview and Prediction – 12 PM EST Friday July 4, 2014 Estdio Maracan, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
By Jason Green, World Cup Soccer Handicapper, Predictem.com
Match Odds: France 3.20 / Germany 2.45 / Draw 3.30
Moneyline: France +220 / Germany +145 / Draw +230
Over/Under: 2.5 goals
While Germany is the betting favorite in this HUGE World Cup quarterfinals match up France has been the more impressive squad so far in the World Cup.
Since 1996 France has 4 wins in 6 matches facing Germany.
The French dispatched Nigeria 2-0 in the round of 16 and they easily won their group. On the other side of the coin Germany did not have the easiest time winning the Group of Death and they needed extra time to beat Algeria in the round of 16 where they were major betting favorites.
Germany is a loaded squad that has not big time weaknesses, but in the Algeria match GK Manuel Neuer had to come out several times to save his defense and thwart the African nation attack in the 2-1 win.
One key in this game will be the play in the midfield and while Germany may have the edge on paper they have not looked great in their last 3 matches after their impressive 4-0 win over Portugal in their tournament opener. Germany plays a with more finesse in the midfield and that may be an issue facing Paul Pogba, who is a bruising player that is strong and can make bursts at any time. He scored the deciding goal in the round of 16 match facing Nigeria and the Germans have to bottle him up in the middle of the pitch.
Germany had some defensive lapses, to say the least, in the match facing Algeria and they have to face a French offense that has looked good, for the most part, in the tournament. Karim Benzema has 3 goals for the World Cup and the German defense must key on him in this big match.
Germany has reached the semifinals of the World Cup 4 straight times, but can they make it 5 straight with a win over France. However, if they play like they did in the Algeria match, and their last 3 for that matter, that will not happen.
France played solid defense in the Nigeria match and facing Thomas Muller, who has 4 goals in 4 matches, and Mario Gotze and Mesut Ozil they have their hands full. The Germans had their chances facing Algeria, but except for the 4-0 pasting of Portugal their offense has looked out of sync.
Bastian Schweinsteiger has been in the starting 11 in the midfield for the last 2 matches, but Sami Khedira was substituted in the Algeria match and he may get the starting nod in this one.
Germany has to get back to playing their style of play, which is great passing and winning the midfield. France has to thwart the attack from the midfield and play solid defense, but Jerome Boateng and Antoine Griezmann have to deal with a German attack that does not looked to get shut down for 2 matches in a row.
The winner of this match will face the winner of the Argentina vs. Belgium match in the semifinals.
Germany Recent Form
6/6/2014 Germany 6 Armenia 1 (Friendly)
6/16/2014 Germany 4 Portugal 0 (World Cup)
6/21/2014 Germany 2 Ghana 2 (World Cup)
6/26/2014 United States 0 Germany 1 (World Cup)
6/30/2014 Germany 2 – 1 (extra time) Algeria (World Cup)
France Recent Form
6/8/2014 France 8 Jamaica 0 (Friendly)
6/15/2014 France 3 Honduras 0 (World Cup)
6/20/2014 Switzerland 2 France 5 (World Cup)
6/25/2014 Ecuador 0 France 0 (World Cup)
6/30/2014 France 2 Nigeria 0 (World Cup)
Jason’s Prediction to Win: This match is a killer one in the quarterfinals with a couple of squads that have no lost love between them. We have yet to see the power of the German squad while France has been very impressive. However, I cannot go against the German giants in this match, as they are better in the midfield and their offense will wake up in this one. Take Germany to win this match 2-1 or 2-0.