actually hor...i think germans just need to draw this match and win the other 2 to make it to quarter-finals, it's chicken feet for them. there is no pressure for them, german players only excel under stress.
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Many people expect this match to be another Spain vs Holland game. Well, no. Germany are no Spain, and Portugal are certainly no Holland. Today's game between Germany and Portugal would be one of the most anticipated early-round fixtures, no doubt about it. Germany, a country with such a rich football history and a country that boasts the likes of Mesut Ozil and Bastian Schweinsteiger, will take on a Portugal side that is home to the current Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo. I am actually looking forward to this game even more than the Spain vs Holland game, for the simple reason that on paper, these teams look very, very even, with Germany having a balanced team throughout and with Portugal having Mr Ronaldo.
For a "very, very even" game, the decision by bookmakers to start Germany at the -0.5 handicap may seem rather baffling. However, after some research, that may very well be the right handicap to start.
We are going to side with the Germans today. Here's why:
1. In Germany's last 18 group games in World Cup tournaments, they have only lost once, and that came in 2010 against Serbia. Apart from that, they have notched 13 wins and 4 draws.
2. Germany have started their last 6 World Cup campaigns with a win: 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010. Going by that, it may take some doing for Portugal to halt that run.
3. Germany have scored more goals than any other team in the World Cup qualifiers, putting past the opposition keepers a total of 36 times. Not even the firepower of Spain, Holland or France could topple the Germans' clinicalness in front of goal.
4. Portugal's last 7 games at the World Cup saw them winning 1, drawing 3 and losing 3. Sure enough, they need to just draw to beat the handicap today, but going by their lackluster form in recent World Cup history, a draw may well be too far-fetched a proposition.
5. In the last 17 games between Germany and Portugal, Portugal have won just 3, with Germany bagging 9 wins, and the other 5 games drawn.
6. Germany are expected to have familiarity and understanding throughout the pitch. Why? Germany's first eleven should feature a few players form the same clubs, namely: Manuel Neuer, Philipp Lahm Jerome Boateng, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Toni Kroos and Thomas Muller from Bayern Munich; and Mesut Ozil, Per Mertesacker and Lukas Podolski from Arsenal. One may argue that Spain have a similar thing going, but to me, for Spain, they have an aging squad. The current German crop could go for a few more years yet, with energy and drive in abundance.
7. Portugal can be considered largely a one-man team, and that man is none other than Cristiano Ronaldo. Nani has struggled for a few years to get into the Manchester United line-up, while the likes of Joao Moutinho, Miguel Veloso and Raul Meireles, despite their potential, are devoid of the experience from the big Leagues as compared to their German counterparts, with Moutinho playing for Monaco, Veloso playing for Dynamo Kyiv and Meireles playing for Fenerbahce. Yes, Pepe is the first-choice at Real Madrid... but other than Pepe and Ronaldo, there is little to be impressed about elsewhere.
Based on all of the aforementioned, I am comfortable with a German win.
