In a Group E opener for both sides, Germany and Japan meet Wednesday at Khalifa International Stadium in Ar Rayyan at 8 a.m. ET (FS1/Telemundo). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Germany vs. Japan odds, and make our best World Cup bets, picks and predictions.
Germany had a terrible time in Russia during the last World Cup, failing to make it out of Group F with Mexico and Sweden advancing. Germany was blanked twice, including a stunning 2-0 beating from South Korea.
Germany limps into this competition missing key personnel. M Florian Wirtz and F Timo Werner didn’t make the squad due to injury, and F Marco Reus is not available to manager Hansi Flick, either. The Germans turn to 18-year-old F Youssoufa Moukoko, and 2014 standout, M Mario Gotze to plug the dike.
Japan has some world-class talent in D Yuto Nagatomo and D Maya Yoshida, and M Daichi Kamada is a player Germany knows well, as he has starred in the Bundesliga. D Takehiro Tomiyasu is also a world-class player who plays in the Premier League, so Japan has plenty of talent.
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Germany vs. Japan odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 8:45 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline: Germany -210 (bet $210 to win $100) | Japan +570 (bet $100 to win $570) | Draw +380
- Over/Under: 2.5 (O: -140 | U: +120)
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Prediction
Germany 2, Japan 1
Moneyline (ML)
Germany (-210) will cost you over 2 times your potential return, and that’s a little expensive for a side that is not bringing its top squad to Qatar due to injury. That’s not to say Germany doesn’t have plenty of talent, and experience, because it does. But they’re trying to replace several stars heading into the biggest competition of them all, and this is a side that failed miserably in Russia in 2018.
PASS.
Over/Under (O/U)
OVER 2.5 (-140) is the best bet on the board. Germany is going to be looking to start hot, while Japan is going to be looking to add to the woes of Germany on the recent world stage.
The last time we saw Japan it was topped by Canada in a friendly Thursday. Germany topped Oman 1-0 in a friendly last Wednesday, but it has had just two clean sheets in the past 10 matches across all international competitions. We should see both sides on the scoreboard Wednesday.
Check out Pro Soccer Wire: For the American soccer fan, USA TODAY Sports Media Group’s website provides a fresh look at the beautiful game.
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