As you’d expect, bookmakers are high on the defending champion Germans heading into the World Cup – and can you blame them? In search of their record-tying fifth title at Russia 2018, Germany is expecting big things this summer and so are bettors who will play chalk on the National Eleven as favorites to become the first team to repeat at the World Cup since a Pele-led Brazil side capped a second consecutive title campaign in Chile more than half a century ago.
With uber options at every position, Joachim Low – the longtime manager and de facto reform leader of Germany’s football program – certainly had his work cut out for him when he picked the team he’d be bringing to Russia and he referred to the final cuts as a “photo finish.” The most notable exclusions were 25-year-old Mario Gotze, whom most will remember as the scorer of Germany’s golden goal in Brazil, and Leroy Sane, the tricky winger who tallied 10 goals and 15 assists in Manchester City’s dominant English Premier League campaign.
Having too many quality players, though, is a blessing, not a curse, and some pundits – myself included – have dubbed this German squad as being vastly more talented than a somewhat flawed side that managed to hoist the world’s trophy four years ago.
After a truly Wunderbar qualifying run that saw them take 30 points in 10 games while outscoring opponents 43-4, it’s World Cup or bust for the Germans in Russia this summer.
Germany’s Odds to Win the World Cup: +475
An excellent place to start for any World Cup punter is to pick a favorite with a good shot to go deep and Germany definitely fits the bill. Die Mannschaft are deep, experienced, dynamic, tactically sound and sublimely talented at any given position in the starting XI and they lose very little in squad rotation or when dealing with injuries.
Returning nine players from Brazil (six of whom project as starters), the Germans might have more World Cup experience than any other competing nation.
It’s true they lost such legendary names as Bastian Schweinsteiger, Philipp Lahm, Miroslav Klose, Lukas Podolski and Per Mertesacker (who have a combined 605 international caps), but in actuality, most of those players had minimal impact on Germany’s golden run in 2014 and their direct replacements (Leon Goretzka, Joshua Kimmich, Timo Werner, Marco Reus and Niklas Sule) are among the world’s best at their respective positions.
Imagine replacing your old reliable VW Jetta TDI with a Mercedes AMG GT R and that’s basically what you’ve got with Germany’s 2018 World Cup squad.
Germany’s Odds to Win Group F: -300
Among the World Cup’s biggest favorites to win their group, Germany would be gutted at a result other than that and it’s difficult to envision any of their competitors getting the best of them in the tournament’s preliminary contests.
Some consider Group F to be one of the most competitive with Mexico (+550), Sweden (+800) and South Korea (+2200) all presenting different challenges but let’s be real, this is always going to be a battle for second place. The Germans take Group F with seven points at the minimum.
Germany’s Best World Cup Bets
The best bet for Germany is undoubtedly for them to win the World Cup at +475 but beyond that, I think a wager on the defending champions to make it to the semifinals at the very least is a lock at EVEN money.
This is the best footballing nation in the world right now and until they’re proven otherwise, I will be taking every piece of them I can in any market that offers EVEN odds or better and I’ll suggest (with a clear conscience) that you do the same.
Germany’s Players to Watch: Timo Werner, Manuel Neuer
Remember that German car analogy I made earlier? Well, Timo Werner is the engine. He’s set to feature as the starting No. 9 at the top of the National Eleven and with service from world-class players like Toni Kroos, Mesut Ozil, Leon Goretzka, Julian Brandt, Julian Draxler, Marco Reus, Joshua Kimmich and many more? I like this speedster’s chances of finishing his fair share at the World Cup and his odds of winning the Golden Boot at +1600 are well tempting.
Finally fit and able to fulfill his starting duties, Manuel Neuer will give the Germans a major World Cup confidence boost. While they wouldn’t have lost much at all in terms of ability with Marc-Andre ter Steigen between the pipes, Neuer is in his prime and already has the experience of winning a World Cup trophy.
Germany’s Road to Russia
Utter domination.
That’s the only way to describe the Germans’ qualifying campaign that saw them take every available point while posting a staggering +39 goal differential in 10 matches. Sure, they didn’t have the strongest group in Europe but a pounding is still a pounding and Germany is coming into Russia a well-oiled hammering machine.
Those who followed the lead-up to the 2014 World Cup know that this was not the case for the Germans heading to Brazil. They had woes about where the scoring would come from in lieu of a pure striker and injuries really limited their depth.
All they did with those limitations was win the whole bloody thing, scoring 18 goals along the way. That’s a scary prospect for every other nation in the 2018 tournament when you consider how much they’ve improved over the last four years.
Bet against Ze Germans at your peril.
Bet on the 2018 World Cup here