Germany Women V Sweden Women
Saturday 29 June 2019 – 17:30 Kick-Off
International: Women’s World Cup, Quarter-Final
Pick: Germany to WIN -3/4 Bet365
Preview: One of the oldest and fiercely competitive rivalries in the women’s game will be renewed inside Roazhon Park in Rennes for this quarter-final showdown. Two-time winners Germany take on Sweden, whose only previous appearance in a World Cup final ended in heartbreak when they were beaten 2-1 by the Germans in 2003.
The two nations have clashed numerous times since. It is Germany, though, who will be feeling supremely confident about their chances here as they appear to have the recent beating of Sweden, who have failed to record a win in any of the previous five meetings (D1 L4). The most recent being a 2-1 loss in a friendly earlier in the year. The most harrowing, however, was undoubtedly the 4-1 thrashing Die Nationalelf handed out at the Round of 16 stage at the last World Cup.
Can Sweden finally overcome their nemesis or will Germany continue to reign supreme in this fixture?
Recent Trends
- Germany have won all four games at this World Cup without conceding a goal. They’re also unbeaten in their last 15 matches in all competitions (W13 D2).
- Sweden have won three of their four games at this World Cup (W3 L1). Their record in 2019 reads W3 D2 L3.
- 2-1 winners when they last met in an April friendly, Germany are unbeaten in five versus Sweden (W4 D1).
Germany Women Preview
While some of the other fancied nations have been soaking up plenty of attention, the Germans have flown a little under the radar by comparison. Which is probably how they prefer it. It is also a somewhat odd statement to make regarding a team that is bidding to reach their sixth semi-final of a World Cup and has been irrepressible at these finals so far. Even their outright odds have remained steadfast at around 9/2.
Very few teams – if any – have impressed more so than the Germans though, who maintained their flawless progress by confidently dispatching with Nigeria (3-0) in the previous round. And I do mean flawless. Four wins out of four; zero goals conceded. China (1-0), Spain (1-0) and South Africa (4-0) were simply no match for Die Nationalelf. They comfortably topped their group, with barely a scare in sight (allowing just six shots on target is one of the more astonishing statistics behind their success).
Their impressive form does go beyond this tournament. It is now 15 games without defeat in all competitions (W13 D2) for Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s players, who have conceded to only two teams in 2019 (Japan in a 2-2 draw and that 2-1 victory over Sweden) and kept seven clean sheets in their past nine matches. Just witnessing them shipping a goal would be a huge upset at present, let alone them actually losing. The team has hit peak form, quite simply.
The star performer could arguably be an entire back line, such has been the impregnable manner of their defending. However, there has been a standout performer. Sara Däbritz has netted three times so far, including in each of the last three games. The 24-year-old midfielder would appear a very good bet to make it four in a row here – she would need to score in her next two appearances to equal a German record for successive World Cup goals.
Sweden Women Preview
It has been a relatively strong showing for Sweden at this World Cup thus far, culminating in their last-sixteen victory over a decent Canada outfit. The scoreline was close (1-0), and it could have been even closer had it not been for the goalkeeping heroics of Hedvig Lindahl. The 36-year-old produced a simply stunning save to keep out a penalty midway through the second half. It could also have been more comfortable for them had VAR not intervened.
The response was positive from Peter Gerhardsson’s players, who were soundly beaten by the USA in their final group game prior to facing the Canadians. That was the only occasion Sweden have failed to win at these finals, registering comfortable wins over Chile (2-0) and Thailand (5-1) in the group stage. The defence has been strong for the most part but has suffered lapses on occasions, most notably conceding Thailand’s only goal of the tournament. Canada also had their moments in front of goal.
A worrying aspect is perhaps their form against the very top teams, especially this year. It was a struggle throughout against USA, as Sweden’s cautious, defend-first approach restricted their ability to impose themselves on proceedings. The tactics are likely to be repeated here, against another elite nation whom they also struggled against earlier in the year, losing 2-1 in a friendly. And Sweden’s 2019 form in general (W6 D2 L3) simply doesn’t match up to that of their rivals.
Predictably Sweden will likely spend large periods of this game on the backfoot. Therefore some huge displays are required from a defence which does certainly boast a wealth of experience together; Linda Sembrant and Nilla Fischer have over 100 caps each. However, Sweden will need to ask their own questions eventually, and nobody has been more influential in the attacking phases than Kosovare Asllani. The former Man City playmaker has contributed two goals and as many assists at these finals and will be their main threat in attacks.
Betting Tips
Main Selection: Germany to WIN – 3/4 Bet365
Value Pick: Sara Dabritz Anytime Scorer – 7/2 Betfair
Betting Summary
There has been a surprisingly high amount of fixtures between these two which produced both teams to score (4 of the last 5), and with neither side likely to wilt under the pressure should they fall behind, that could be a decent trend to get behind again.
Germany’s defensive record is a concern as far as that particular bet goes. If true to form then Sweden may well be limited to very few chances. And if even more true to form, Germany win this. The Germans’ form in this tournament (winning four out of four) as well as for this year (W7 D2 L0) is so much stronger than Sweden, who have already suffered a loss in France (W3 D0 L1) and have had a mixed year overall (W6 D2 L3). Germany were also 2-1 winners in April the last occasion these teams met.
