EURO 2012 Qualifier: Belgium V Germany – Friday, September 3rd

Belgium V Germany

Friday, September 3rd – 19:45 GMT (LIVE STREAMING via Bet365)
EURO 2012 Qualifier, Group A

This young and fresh German team fulfilled their potential earlier than expected when reaching the semi-finals at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, but coach Joachim Lowe claims there is still plenty more to come from a side which looks every bit a champion in the making on World Cup form.

Unless you were an avid follower of the German Bundesliga, Germany’s 23-man party which took to South Africa during June/July boasted much of the unknown about it, with household names few and far between and the majority players for the future. However, in reaching their peak so early on, the expectation levels around the world are rightly huge for this talented German team, and many will fancy their chances in Poland-Ukraine for the 2012 European Championships should they qualify from Group A.

Germany are 6/1 with Ladbrokes to go one better than their semi-final appearance in South Africa by progressing to the EURO 2012 final before lifting the trophy for a record fourth time, but must first ensure the teams in Group A – Turkey, Austria, Belgium, Kazakhstan & Azerbaijan – don’t cause them too many problems en route to qualification for the finals in just under two years time.

The big news from Germany this week was on the captain debate, as Michael Ballack’s ankle injury ruled him out of the summer’s final and Joachim Lowe handed experienced full-back Philipp Lahm the captains arm band. Speculation back home in Germany was that Lahm would continue as captain of the back of a promising World Cup bid, but that theory was soon squashed by coach Lowe, who insisted that Michael Ballack, now of Bayer Leverkusen after moving back to Germany as a free agent following Chelsea’s refusal to offer the German stalwart a new contract, would remain as German skipper with Philipp Lahm vice-captain.

Ballack wasn’t included in Lowe’s 23-man squad for their upcoming EURO qualifiers with Belgium and Azerbaijan meaning Lahm will continue to lead the team until Ballack return to full health.

Germany’s first qualifying game is against Belgium, who have gone off the boil in recent campaigns and didn’t get anywhere near to making the cut for South Africa. The Belgians also possess a terrible record against their neighbours, having lost the previous 14 meetings with their last victory over a German side coming way back in 1954.

Anything less than a winning start for Joachim Lowe’s men would be a genuine surprise, despite playing away in Belgium, and the Germans are 4/7 (1.57) to continue where they left off in South Africa, which was playing dazzling, at times breathtaking, football and also scoring plenty of goals. We don’t see Germany slipping up in Brussels and if your of the same opinion than I suggest you snap up their odds of 4/7 (1.67) available with most firms.

Match Odds:

Belgium – 6.50 VCbet
Draw – 4.20 bWin
Germany – 1.57 Bet365, Ladbrokes, PaddyPower

Matt’s Tip: Germany to WIN – 1.57 Bet365