Germany VS Sweden Match Prediction
2018-06-23
18:00:00
Germany
VS
Sweden
Our Prediction Tip
Germany will win this match.
2018-06-2318:00:00 Germany will win this match.
Germany are unbeaten in their last seven matches against Sweden, of which they have won five in a run stretching back to 1990. It means they slightly edge the all-time head-to-head record too, with 15 wins to Sweden’s 13 and eight draws. Their most recent fixtures came in qualifying for the 2014 World Cup and saw two remarkably high-scoring games. In Berlin, Sweden overturned a 4-0 deficit to draw 4-4 with a last-minute equaliser before Germany won 5-3 in Stockholm. Mesut Ozil scored for Germany in both fixtures.
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Germany have not lost to Sweden since 1988 - they are unbeaten in their last seven meetings.
Mesut Ozil scored in both of his previous matches against Sweden
Sweden have kept three clean sheets in their last three matches
Germany have only won one match since securing qualification for the 2018 World Cup with ten wins from ten in qualifying
Germany’s World Cup defence got off to the worst possible start when they lost to Mexico, and Sweden’s tight defence will provide another tough fixture second up.
In Germany’s favour, however, is their record against Sweden – they are unbeaten in their last seven meetings, including five wins.
Mesut Ozil has scored in both his previous games against the Swedes, while Thomas Muller and Timo Werner will hope to get among the goals after drawing blanks against Mexico.
Sweden’s defensive record masks their poor run of form in front of goal too – their penalty against South Korea is the only goal they have scored in their last four games.
If Germany can keep them out, they will surely back themselves to get among the goals at the other end. Guillermo Ochoa was in inspired form for Mexico against Germany last time out and Robin Olsen is in for a busy game in goal for Sweden now.
Expect a tight game – Sweden have played too well defensively in recent months for it to be anything otherwise – but Germany can bounce back to winning ways.
On another day, the same performance against Mexico might have earned them at least two or three goals and there would be no panic in the Germany camp.
This will be where their big-tournament experience, and the fact they won the last World Cup and last summer’s Confederations Cup, will pay off for Germany.
Germany remain big odds-on favourites to beat Sweden despite their respective results on the opening day. Betfair are offering 4/9 on a Germany win.
Sweden have not scored in open play in their last four matches, and a Germany win to nil improves those odds to just 6/5 with Ladbrokes. Similarly, betting against both teams to score will return 9/13 with 10Bet.
The Swedes – while not in good goalscoring form – have been excellent at the other end, however, and it is worth backing there being under 1.5 goals on Saturday – Betfair are offering a generous 3/1 on that eventuality.
Timo Werner will hope to get among the goals, meanwhile, after missing out against Mexico. He is 13/10 with 888sport to score his first World Cup goal at any time against Sweden.
1) Both teams to score = “no” at 9/13 with 10bet
2) Germany to win to nil at 6/5 with Ladbrokes
3) Total goals = under 1.5 at 3/1 with Betfair
Germany suffered a setback in losing to Mexico, but they created plenty of chances. Put just one away against Sweden and it might be enough, given the Swedes’ struggles in attack.
Jonas Hector missed the opening game through illness but could return at left-back in place of Marvin Plattenhardt to face Sweden. Former World Cup golden boot winner Thomas Muller started ahead of Marco Reus, meanwhile, with the latter featuring for the last half-hour in place of Sami Khedira. Germany team are likely to stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation they started the match with, however.
Timo Werner (striker) – Eight goals in 15 international appearances for Germany so far, and 21 in each of the last two seasons with RB Leipzig too.
Manuel Neuer (goalkeeper) – Officially the second-best player at the last World Cup, the Bayern Munich goalkeeper’s return from injury is timely
Thomas Muller (attacking midfielder/striker) – Back in the team lately, the Bayern Munich striker has scored ten goals in the last two World Cups combined. His five in 2010 earned him the Golden Boot.
Germany 0-1 Mexico
Despite 17 shots on goal – nine of which were on target – and 67 per cent of the possession, Germany were unable to find a way past Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa in their opening World Cup game. Hirving Lozano’s early goal gave Mexico the lead, and they could even have won more convincingly after squandering some good chances as the game opened up in the second-half.
Germany have won just once since securing qualification for the 2018 World Cup with a 100 per cent record – ten wins from ten. After qualifying, Germany drew with England, France and Spain and then suffered their first defeat since Euro 2016 when they lost 1-0 to Brazil in March. Defeat to Austria followed, and though they bounced back to win 2-1 against Saudi Arabia in their final friendly thanks to Timo Werner and an own goal, they lost to Mexico last time out.
Victor Lindelof missed Sweden’s opening game against South Korea through illness, with Pontus Jansson starting at centre-back in his place. Janne Andersson must now decide whether to stick with a winning team or restore the Manchester United man to the team to face Germany. Ludwig Augustinsson started against South Korea ahead of Martin Olsson, as had been expected after the Peru friendly.
Marcus Berg (striker) – Top scorer in World Cup qualifying for Sweden with eight goals. He has 18 in 58 in total for the national team
Sebastian Larsson (midfielder) – His set pieces were always dangerous, and the midfielder offers plenty of experience having passed 100 international caps too
Andreas Granqvist (defender) – Took responsibility to score from the spot against South Korea, and now must keep Germany’s strikers under wraps
Sweden 1-0 South Korea (Granqvist (p))
While Sweden Football team needed a VAR-awarded penalty to beat South Korea in their opening World Cup game, the victory was fully deserved having denied the Koreans even a shot on target. Sweden could have been in front before half-time when Marcus Berg missed a great chance, but they did not rue their missed chances.
Sweden’s win against South Korea ended a run of four matches without victory, and also marked their third consecutive clean sheet after goalless draws with Denmark and Peru. Andreas Granqvist’s goal was, however, their first goal in four games as they lost 1-0 to Romania prior to their two recent draws.
Germany won the World Cup in 2014 but could be facing an early exit this time around if they do not beat Sweden in their second game in Group F. Sweden currently top Group F after winning their opening game against South Korea, while Germany lost to Mexico. The two European teams now meet in Sochi’s Fisht Olympic Stadium on Saturday June 23, with the game scheduled to kick off at 9pm local time.
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