Germany take on Asian Cup winners Australia
World Cup winners Germany take on Australia, as they prepare to face Georgia in their Euro 2016 qualifier. Joachim Low’s side are odds-on favourites at 2/11 with Coral to triumph, and last time out beat Spain 1-0 in a friendly, with Toni Kroos getting an 89th minute winner.
The Real Madrid midfielder, who recently featured in his team’s 2-1 ‘El Clasico’ defeat is 11/4 to get on the scoresheet anytime. So far in their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign, Germany have been effective without setting the world alight, though a 2-0 defeat to Poland plus a draw with Republic of Ireland definitely weren’t on Low’s agenda.
Unsurprisingly, Thomas Muller leads Germany’s scoring charts in qualifying, with four goals in as many matches, and consequently is 9/2 to break the deadlock, having also dispatched against Australia before. This match offers an opportunity for Low to rotate his team somewhat, giving some promising young talents a chance, and players who have been out through injury this season.
Borussia Dortmund duo Marco Reus and Ilkay Gundogan could certainly be in contention to feature, and are 5/1 and 13/2 respectively to break the deadlock. The former has suffered massively with injury problems this season, though has still managed 11 goals in 23 appearances, across all competitions, for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Mario Gotze, meanwhile, has netted 15 goals in all competitions for Bayern Munich this campaign, plus one in Euro 2016 qualifying, in Die Mannschaft’s 4-0 win over Gibraltar. Lukas Podolski has also netted against Ange Postecoglou’s side and is a 15/8 anytime chance.
Australia’s fortunes since the World Cup have improved somewhat, after winning the Asia Cup, a tournament which they hosted. Beating South Korea 2-1 in the final, it was James Troisi who netted the winner deep into extra time, and he is good value at 11/2 to score anytime.
Out of the four occasions that both teams have met, Germany have taken three victories, while the southern hemisphere side just have the solitary victory to their name. Socceroos attacker Mathew Leckie plies his trade in Germany for FC Ingolstadt 04 and has scored five goals, contributing six assists this term. He is also 11/2 in the anytime market, and is one to watch.
