BETDAQ’s Greg Walker is back with an in-depth preview of tonight’s International clash between France v Germany (live 8pm).
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He now previews France v Germany…..
International Preview
France v Germany
Live on Sky Sports 20:00
Keystone cops….
A raft of International friendly’s will be played out across Europe this Wednesday evening and in the wake of the recent Interpol press release on match-fixing I fear every referee will have second thoughts about blowing his whistle and linesman about raising his flag. As if the pressure that these match officials are under in each game they officiate is not enough Interpol have added to it ten fold with a press release stating that match fixing is endemic however they conveniently won’t name names! All we are hearing at this time is press and social network rumours and until Interpol can bring definite proof and charges against said persons colluding in this form of criminality they should keep their eager press officer on a tighter rein. Whilst Interpol’s investigations and good intentions are to be commended and there are match fixing issues past, present and future not every single player, coach, official and team should come under suspicion for the criminal acts of the few and Interpol’s ‘jump the gun’ attitude this week has put the majority of world football’s innocent participants in an unfair and suspicious spotlight.
French Revolution….
England v Brazil, Spain v Uruguay and Sweden v Argentina are all top class ties but the glamour game between France and Germany is the friendly for which I favour as a betting heat in which we can make another profit. The Germans make the short trip to the beautiful city of Paris to face a very in-form and impressive French national team. Didier Deschamps appointment as coach less than seven months ago has seen a much improved and badly needed harmony in the squad and the much needed public support is quickly returning in the aftermath of that embarrassing 2010 World cup debacle. Deschamp has quickly restored a sense of pride and honour in playing for the national team with both players and fans in full support of their new coach’s style. As was in his playing days Deschamps takes no Le Crap from any of his players and the proof of this is in his continued omission of the very talented Samir Nasri.
Les Bleu’s boss has not opted for the easy route since his appointment with international friendly’s set up against Uruguay, Italy and the upcoming Germany game. Last November’s international away win in Italy was the first major sign of what this squad can achieve. They have won two of their last three world cup qualifiers impressively away to Finland and at home to Belarus and secured a most deserved draw away to Spain. Super sub Olivier Giroud scored at the death to secure this valuable point but do not think that this was a lucky point as this was a game that France could easily have come a way with all three points. Frank Ribery had another one of his fantastic games in a blue jersey and was the stand out player on the pitch, this is some accolade to receive when there are eleven Spanish internationals on the pitch! Their will be some star names on show for both sides, as mentioned above Ribery plus Benzema and PSG’s Jeremy Menez. The English premier league will be well represented with net minder and captain Hugo Lloris, Patrice Evra, Sagna, Koscielny, Yohan Cabaye and the French midfielder who introduced himself in explosive fashion only last weekend to the EPL Moussa Sissoko. The ex-Toulouse man has the look and style of one Patrick Viera and I am certain we will be hearing a lot more of this 6ft 2in athlete in the months and years ahead.
Laid back…. Germans!?
The peoples of every country in the world can be described in some form of stereotype and I don’t think many would agree with me if I associated the description laid back to the German people. This being a football column I am associating this description to the German coach Joachim Low and his star studded team. No more describing a German national team as robotic and since Euro 2008 we find them playing to a style of football more associated with the beaches of the Copacabana. Coach Low is to be credited with having the nerve and belief to change the national team’s football playing perception and whether he ever wins a trophy or not he will always be remembered for this legacy. This is still a work in progress and Low will know he must have the finished article ready for the World Cup Finals in Brazil 2014. They are on track for qualification with three wins and one draw in their group, a six one stylish away win to a poor Ireland side was powerful to watch but they’re capitulation against Sweden in Berlin in the following qualifier was mind blowing. Germany were cruising by four goals to nil only to conceded four in the last twenty eight minutes and had to settle for a draw. The blame for this must lie with Low for not closing the game out tactically and a possible touch of arrogance in the wake of their six goals scored in Dublin the previous weekend.
The upside to playing to this style is in creating plenty of goal scoring chances but the downside is the need to have a wall of top class defence continually cope with out the assistance of their midfielders and the current crop of German defenders are not looking up to this task. In their last seven competitive fixtures they have managed only one clean sheet and that was at home to the Faroe Islands. Centre Half Pers Mertesacker does not instil any confidence for club or country and his partner at the back Dortmund’s Mats Hummels would not mind if the Arsenal man was granted the night off. Bayern’s Bastian Schweinsteiger is injured and this is a big blow to the midfield. Sami Khedeira has been blowing hot and cold for Real Madrid and will not be in the mood to play in the middle with any of the younger players most likely Dortmund’s llkay Gundogan.. Offensively they have a wealth of talent, Podolski, Muller, Ozil, although none are out and out goal scorers. Striker Miroslav Klose is out and this leaves Mario Gomez as the only outstanding striker although Cacau may pick up another cap.
Momentum….
Didier Deschamps has his Les Bleus on a roll and won’t want to lose the momentum. They have two world cup qualifiers at home in March against Georgia & Spain and I expect the team starting against the Germans on Wednesday will be very close to the team that starts those games. Germany did keep a clean sheet in their most recent friendly against Holland but I feel reinstalled goalkeeper Rene Adler will be in for a busy night on his return between the sticks after his two year absence….
Betting on Betdaq Greg’s Tip:
BACK FRANCE 2 POINTS @ 2.8
PROFIT TO DATE: 18.91 points
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