One of the biggest World Cup qualifying fixtures takes place on Friday evening, with Czech Republic hosting Group C leaders Germany. Germany have been in scintillating form so far, winning all of their six fixtures to date, scoring 27 goals in the process. Despite this, encounters against the Czech Republic have a history of being close, making this an intriguing clash for both fans and punters alike.
World Cup 2018 Qualifying – Eden Arena, Prague – Friday 31st August – 19:45 UK Time
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Draw Best Odd of: 3 at Paddy |
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Czech Republic
GermanyMatch Preview: Czech Republic vs Germany
Despite the Czech Republic having won just two of their opening six matches, just one defeat also demonstrates that they are a team that is difficult to beat, especially in front of their home support. However, Karel Jarolím’s side will undoubtedly have to be at the top of their game on Friday, with five-time world cup winners Germany having demonstrated their talents throughout qualification so far.
Czech Republic Team News & Form
The Czech Republic are looking to rebuild their national football team after a number of years of disappointing performances, with players such as Patrik Schick and Jakub Jankto continuing to make a name for themselves at the highest level.
Striker Schick is believed to be on the brink of a big money move away from Italian side Sampdoria, with the 21-year-old having scored one goal from his five caps to date. Elsewhere, experienced players such as Vladimir Darida, Tomas Sivok and Marek Suchy will be hoping to help overcome their fierce rivals.
Germany Team News & Form
Joachim Löw has led his side to a 100% winning record in Group C so far, meaning that they already sit five points clear of Northern Ireland in the standings. With a whole host of star names from the Bundesliga, as well as the Premier League and Serie A, Germany are undoubtedly one of Europe’s leading names in the world of football. The likes of Mesut Ozil, Thomas Muller and Toni Kroos are likely to start the game against the Czech Republic, with the trio having scored 70 international goals between them throughout their careers.
Head to Head
Germany have won five of their previous meetings with the Czech Republic, with just two defeats in this time. Germany won their World Cup qualifying clash back in October with a 3-0 scoreline, however the Czech Republic won the previous encounter back in 2007 with the same result.
Betting Odds and Predictions
Given their dominance in Group C so far, backing Germany to come out on top on Friday evening could well be a wise move, with Ladbrokes offering odds of 1/2 for this market. However, for those backing their winning record coming to an end with a win for the home side, a Czech Republic win can be found at odds of 11/2 with the same bookmaker.
Elsewhere, backing both teams to score is another appealing market for punters, with William Hill offering odds of 10/11 on both the Czech Republic and Germany finding the back of the net. Finally, and on a similar note, backing both teams to score but Germany to win is also available at 12/5.
Top Betting Tip
Despite these attractive looking markets, our top betting tip for the match is to bet on the ‘Draw of Germany’ market at Ladbrokes, which is available at odds of 1/8 at Ladbrokes.