Two World Cup title favorites collide in the group stage in one of the most must-see matchups of the 2022 tourney. Don’t lay a dollar on Germany vs Spain until you read this. We have a match preview, plus two free betting picks on the Germany-Spain duel.
Germany vs. Spain Preview
You can’t preview Germany vs. Spain without mentioning its games before this. The two countries got off to polar opposite starts in Group E. The Spaniards had the biggest opening win of the whole tourney by shutting out Costa Rica 7-0. Then there are the Germans, which were shell-shocked 2-1 by the Japanese.
The loss means Germany is practically in must-win territory going into this game. Spain’s +7 goal differential puts it in a good spot so long as they can at least nab one more win or even a tie. Japan, meanwhile, is expected to take care of business versus a downtrodden Costa Rica team. If so, having six points would almost be a lock for advancement. So yes, the pressure is on the Germans come game day on Sunday.
Both clubs play a possession-heavy style of play. Of course, Spain is famous for its pressing defenses which seizes ball possession plenty and often. That style is typically even more effective when teams want to “take it to them” — which Germany is known to do. But this current side for Germany, we’re just not so sure is capable of actually doing that successfully.
The once-dominance Germans have looked anything but since crashing out of the 2018 World Cup in the group stage. Two years later at the Euros, they went 1-2-1 and looked beatable. Losing to Japan only added gas to the open flame too.
Germany vs. Spain Betting Picks
With a game as hyped up as Germany-Spain, there’s a wealth of bets available at the top-used soccer betting sites. Props are abundant, however, for our Germany vs. Spain betting picks, we’ll stick to the two classics — over/under and 3-way moneyline. We see a lot of value in each and here’s how we’re betting on them:
Over/Under 2.5 goals
The Japan loss not only left Germany reeling going into this second match, but it’s also given Spain the blueprint to win — one they know all too well. Japan played two completely different halves against Germany. The first half was ineffective as they tried to counterattack. But after intermission, they went into full-on press mode a la Spain. That press defense opened the door for a transition game which ultimately led to two goals that won it for Germany.
There’s zero reason to believe Spain can’t have the same, if not more, success using those Japan-like tactics against Germany. We mean, they’re the country that’s best perfected that approach over the years. And certainly, La Roja is more talented than Japan is.
So we’re betting the over. We’re pretty confident in Spain’s ability to score at least two. And with Germany being in a must-situation, we can’t possibly see them being blanked. We believe three goals should be the expectation here.
3-Way Moneyline
We’re going to be straight up: the Germans are in trouble of being embarrassed for a second straight World Cup. Doubt has to be beginning to set in, which is not what the country is accustomed to.
But never mind mental confidence, this German team just isn’t all that good. We especially have question marks about its attack. Here’s who finished the game for Germany up top: Mario Gotze, Youssoufa Moukoko, and Niclas Fullkrug. Gotze has the name value from World Cup 2014 but not the production to back up his former hype. Moukoko just turned 18 years old. And Fullkrug has capped for Germany all of two times. None of the three started, but it just speaks to the lack of depth and talent up front for the Germans.
We’re predicting a win for La Roja here. They’re more talented. They’re more mentally confident. And their brand of play aligns with what worked for Japan against Germany. Our final prediction is Spain 2, Germany 1 — and you can take that to the bank.
How To Bet On Germany vs. Spain
While we’re enamored with the two bets we covered above, there’s certainly more available as we alluded to. If you want a complete list of Germany vs. Spain bets, then visit one of the bookmakers below. The sites listed here graded out high in our latest sportsbook reviews and one chief reason why is their deep betting menus. You’ll have hundreds of bets to pick from not only on this juggernaut matchup but the rest of the 2022 World Cup too.
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