Germany breezed through its World Cup qualifiers with a 10-0 record, outscoring its opponents 43-4 along the way. But after losing its 2018 World Cup opener to Mexico, the squad now faces a critical game on Saturday against Sweden.
Germany vs. Sweden odds 2018: World Cup Group E matchup has Germany as clear favorite
Germany might need a win over Sweden to keep its hopes of winning back-to-back World Cups alive, and the sportsbooks have them set as heavy chalk for the contest.
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The Germans are a -210 betting favorite in this weekend’s Group F action at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. Sweden can punch its ticket into the knockout round with a win as +600 underdogs and stay in total control of its destiny with a draw at +340.
Group E: Germany vs. Sweden
When: Saturday, June 23, 2:00 p.m. ET
Where: Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi, Russia
Betting Line / Total: Germany -210 / 2.5 Goals
On most game days, a second-rate effort from Germany is more than enough to come away with a victory. But last Sunday, the German side came out of the gate flat and were punished by a strong Mexican counter-attack that eventually found the back of the net for the game’s first and only goal.
Germany looked sharper in the second half as it tried to find the equalizer, but it came up short to fall into this precarious 0-1 position in the group
Germany has not lost a game to Sweden since 1988, going undefeated in its last seven matches against the Swedes with a record of 5-0-2.
Sweden’s strong defending played a major role in the team’s qualifying for the World Cup as it outlasted a pair of much more established international teams in the Netherlands and Italy.
That defending was on display in Sweden’s playoff against Italy when it held the Italians scoreless in both legs of qualifier, and then again in the team’s 1-0 win last Monday against South Korea. The South Koreans were held without a single shot on goal in that clean sheet win.
Saturday’s total is set at 2.5 goals. The last two games between these two teams in 2012 and 2013 each produced eight goals.
Germany has not failed to advance out of the group stage in any of its last 16 World Cup appearances, last failing to do so all the way back in 1938. Conventional wisdom suggests that the defending champions will find a way, but after being frustrated by Mexico’s wall of defense last weekend, the path to the goal won’t get much easier this Saturday against Sweden’s stout defending.
For more odds information, betting picks and a breakdown of this week’s top World Cup betting news check out the OddsShark FC podcast with Andrew Avery, Rob Trites, and Craig Cormier. Subscribe on iTunes or listen to it at OddsSharkFC.libsyn.com.
