It remains to be seen exactly what Germany side takes to the pitch for Friday’s match versus Greece but whoever Joachim Low fields should be good enough to advance to the last four.
It has been suggested that Mario Gomez, Lukas Podolski and Thomas Muller might all be rested by the Germany manager and if Low chooses to do so then that is a risky strategy.
Of course if Germany get the job done then Low will be able to call upon three fresh stars for the match with either England or Italy in the semi-finals but it’s not what I’d be doing and there would be some very long faces were the plan to backfire.
That said, with the likes of Miroslav Klose and Marco Reus waiting in the wings, it could be argued that Low isn’t even weakening the Germans and they are sure to take the world of beating.
Now outright favourites, Germany breezed through the supposed Group of Death by beating Portugal, Netherlands and Denmark, all by a single goal margin, and Greece are inferior to each of those trio.
Quite how the Greeks escaped Group A is still a mystery, beating the previously so impressive Russians in their final match to advance, but surely they will come unstuck against a team as professional as their opponents and I think it will be quite comfortable for the jollies.
No bigger than 1.33 to win the clash inside 90 minutes, Germany look value to me at a fraction over evens to prevail by two goals or more and they will be eyeing a fast start.
Greece were two down inside six minutes against Czech Republic on matchday two and a similar opening tonight would be curtains for the 2004 winners who must do without suspended captain Giorgios Karagounis.
2pts Back Germany (-1.5, vs. Greece) @ 2.04 (188 Bet)