Early days on the road to Euro 2012 but already some crucial matches taking place this weekend and there are a host of games over the coming days.
A total of 23 fixtures on Friday and Saturday will help shape the nine qualification groups but very few clashes set the pulse racing and it has been hard work finding the value on offer, too.
Having opened with an impressive win in Belgium, before routing Azerbaijan, as expected, Germany will know that victory over Turkey will help go a long way towards qualifying for Poland/Ukraine and I rate Joachim Low’s men a decent wager at 1.63 with Unibet to do just that.
Low’s men impressed all in South Africa, including yours truly, crushing England and Argentina before finding Spain simply too good in the semi-finals, and, with their sights lowered slightly, success at next summer’s finals should be the target.
Germany, so fantastic to watch in attack, found two genuine stars in the shape of Mesut Ozil and leading scorer Thomas Muller at the World Cup but that pair were ably supported by a number of talented individuals and I was really taken with Bastian Schweinsteiger.
The Bayern Munich man has thrived since finding a new home in a central role and alongside another Real Madrid man, Sammy Khedira, Germany boast just about as dynamic an international midfield as you could wish to find.
While some will point to a slightly suspect back four, you always fancy the Germans to find the net with regularity given their exciting new brand of football and their clash with Turkey in Berlin should be good to watch. It won’t be easy for the visitors however, despite winning their first two matches in Group A, and the home side are classed as bankers.
The Turks, under new manager Guus Hiddink, have begun with wins over Belgium and Kazakhstan but this is a different test altogether and Germany simply don’t get beat on home soil when it matters.
Only two defeats in front of their own fans in 12 years of European Championship and World Cup qualifying is a remarkable record and Low’s side will have nothing to fear from a Turkey team that never travel particularly well.
Just two wins in the last two years away from home pays testament to that and, knowing that Turkey also often fail to give their true running against the big boys, Germany are a confident selection. I have them no bigger than 1.50 shots.
2pts Back Germany (vs. Turkey) @ 1.63 (Unibet)