Germany V Australia-Sunday (19.30)

Headshot

TEAM NEWS

Germany

Loew is likely to select the same starting XI that featured against Bosnia-Herzegovina, with out-of-form trio Lukas Podolski, Piotr Trochowski, and Miroslav Klose in attacking positions, along with Mesut Ozil. Notably, Holger Badstuber should retain his starting role at left-back, with Arne Friedrich partnering Per Mertesacker in central defence and captain Philipp Lahm on the right. The backfour will receive support from central midfield duo Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira.

Striker Cacau and versatile attackers Marko Marin and Thomas Mueller will be among the substitutes to look out for. Each impressed in the recent friendlies, but barring late injury reports, none of the above will start on Sunday. Expect the fringe trio to make an impression as second half substitutes.

Probable Starting XI: Neuer – Lahm, Friedrich, Mertesacker, Badstuber – Khedira, Schweinsteiger – Trochowski, Ozil, Podolski – Klose

Australia

Good news emerged from the Australia camp this week as Tim Cahill, Brett Emerton, and Harry Kewell were all deemed fit to play in Sunday’s opener. Whether or not Verbeek decides to start any or all of the fit-again trio is yet to be determined. While Cahill is likely to start, Emerton and Kewell have not played in recent weeks, and may be replaced by Richard Garcia and Joshua Kennedy, respectively.

On Friday, Middlesbrough goalkeeper Brad Jones announced his withdrawal from Verbeek’s squad, citing personal reasons. Eugene Alekovic has been called up as his replacement, and will play as his team’s third-choice goalkeeper.

Probable Starting XI: Schwarzer – Wilkshire, Moore, Neill, Chipperfield – Culina, Grella – Garcia, Cahill, Bresciano – Kennedy

I think Australia can get something out of this match, ill go for a 1-1

Nemanja91

Can see the Aussies doing well against them, if Germany are to win I think Ozil will be key for them!

steelcityblues

Hope Klose can still shine on the big stage!

OPENROAD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBgEUTHTdhk

Peyton Manning

Looking forward to seeing how Khedira plays, should be an interesting match. Australia are no pushovers, not by a long shot.

Unfortunate news about Jones though. Events like that show's how insignificant something like the World Cup can be at times.

Ferris_Bueller

Nemanja91 wrote: »

Can see the Aussies doing well against them, if Germany are to win I think Ozil will be key for them!

Hope so. I stuck a euro on him for Player of the tournament at 500/1.

Mr.Nice Guy

Have a feeling this is going to be a cracking game. Looking forward to seeing how Ozil gets on.

Kev_ps3

Only game im going to watch tomorrow. Hope its a good one

JPA

Just like the USA, Australia have a terrible team on paper, however they generally perform better than you would expect. I will predict 2-1 Germany.

jester77

OPENROAD wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBgEUTHTdhk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zobdOFapDdM

Got to make it more German

Can see the Germans winning this 2 or 3 - 0. Lowe wants to "humiliate" their opposition, can see them being up for this one.

Boskowski

Can't really comment on the Aussies cos I haven't seen them in years. Therefore I must assume they're probably improved but not quite where USA are in terms of development. Anyway. Young squad or not one would assume that we're seeking to take control of this match. And if things go somewhat according to plan I would expect to see some good passages of play from us. Not sure how solid we are at the back but I'm guessing it won't be a total shocker.
Our talent is all with going forward and playing ball - even more so than 4 years ago - and I expect not to see too many remainders of Germany's accountant style football from the late nineties and early naughties.
So all and all I would like to see a win with a margin of 2+ goals. That'd be just dandy. Win with 1 goal would be ok if convincing, but anything less than that would be not so cool. We're Germany after all ffs and if we're not going to top the group I would expect the damage to be inflicted by Serbia rather than by the other two.
So there I said it. Germany to win convincingly. Please don't make me eat my words tomorrow night.

ShoulderChip

Im beginning to belive the germans will go on a rampage tomorrow thanks to Otzil Otizil Otzil

Xavi6

Australia

- Aging side (only 5 of the 23 man squad are under 25)

- Lack strikers in a squad that already struggles for goals

- Settled back four of Wilkshire, Chipperfield, Moore and Neill

- Conceded one goal in qualifying

- Only won one game in the finals

If Garcia starts it's a joke, but he may have to if some of the better players aren't match fit. Last chance saloon really for the 'Golden Generation' as there isn't a lot to rave about coming through for 2014.

That_Guy

Have a soft spot for both teams but I'd like Australia to win even if I can't see past a Germany win.

Oat23

3-1 Germany...Hopefully.

Peyton Manning

Oatesy23 wrote: »

3-1 Germany...Hopefully.

I've given up predicting anything more than 2 goal games.

flahavaj

Archimedes wrote: »

I've given up predicting anything more than 2 goal games.

Number of goals under 2.5 apears to be the value bet so far.

Dunphy was tipping Australia to win on Newstalk this morning.

I like the look of Australia 4/1 Draw no bet myself :cool:

Emerton to score anytine @ 10/1 is nice too

noodler

Really looking forward to this one.

Mars Bar

Germany haven't lost a group stage match in 24 years! :eek:

Dont be at yourself

I've money on Germany to win by two or more goals. Confidence seems high in their squad, and they have the quality to put Australia to the sword.

mike65

May both teams lose! I'll go with 1-0 Germans who will be efficient and business-like.

Headshot

anybody know how Germany will line up and what formation will they use ?

_Bella_

From BBC:
Germany are, of course, hoping to ride the wave of complete and utter delirium sparked by their victory in the Eurovision Song Contest. The last time Germany won the ESC was in 1982 - a year in which they went on to reach the final of the World Cup. BUT (dun dun dun) NO country has ever done the ESC-World Cup double. Oh deary me, the tension, the sheer tension.

ShoulderChip

Headshot wrote: »

anybody know how Germany will line up and what formation will they use ?

I'd imagine as a very very attacking front 6 of

Muller, Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Otzil
Klose, Podolski

not sure where Otzil Podolski and Muller will be positionally possibly a lot of rotation mid-game.

Peyton Manning

The defence will either be:

.......................Neuer

Lahm....Friedrich...Mertesacker...Badstuber


or

.......................Neuer

Boateng....Friedrich...Mertesacker...Lahm

Klose will probably be on his own up top, with Podolski out left and Ozil in the hole, with Muller on the right. Khedira and Schweinsteiger in central midfield. A 4-2-3-1 if you will, or a 4-5-1, depending on how you class it.

Dont be at yourself

Probably more of a 4-2-3-1 with Schweinsteiger and Khedira deep, Ozil in the hole, Podolski left and Klose up front. Maybe Muller on the right.

Headshot

thanks folks

i wasnt sure where Podolski and Ozil would fit in the team but i do now

thanks

Vokes

I reckon it'll be the line-up from their last game against Bosnia.

---

Neuer

---

Lahm - Friedrich - Mertesacker - Badstuber

---

Khedira - Schweinsteiger

---

Trochowski

---

Ozil

---

Podolski

---

Klose

---

Podge2k7

Hopefully there will be more than 2 goals in this game. Im going with 3-1 to Germany.

steelcityblues

rarnes1 wrote: »

Dunphy was tipping Australia to win on Newstalk this morning.

I like the look of Australia 4/1 Draw no bet myself :cool:

Emerton to score anytine @ 10/1 is nice too

Kiss of death for the Aussies then!

Peyton Manning

Teams are in.

Badstuber starts, Boateng is on the bench.

Tim Cahill is also fit for Australia.

JPA

JPA

Tevez is moonlighting as the referee.

happyoutscan

Germany to win 4-0.

Vokes

Kewell and Kennedy on the bench, and Garcia starting. Interesting...

redout

Adler's injury could be a blessing is disguise for Neuer.

He looks a fantastic young keeper.

United should be considering this chap.

Axwell

Gone with a draw for this one, Germany to be leading 1-0 and Aussies to come back 2nd half with an equaliser.

MR NINE

Germanys lineup looks pretty attacking. Hopefully we might get our first goalfest of the tournament. Even just 3 goals would be nice

Aidric

Australia to take a 1-0 lead and the Germans to peg them back with two second half goals.

Jigga

Didi Hamann is on RTE panel! Quite the coup

monkey9

Jigga wrote: »

Didi Hamann is on RTE panel! Quite the coup

Legend and a hero

Paleface

A German with a Scouser accent!

monkey9

Three nil to the Germans

_Bella_

This is Germanys easiest match in the group

Catenaccio!

Think Germany are a tad overrated for this, and wouldn't be at all surprised if Australia got a draw or nicked a win. Doesn't help Germany that Klose has been pants for years now.

Paleface

Paleface wrote: »

A German with a Scouser accent!

Not even on the same level as Jan Molby!

noodler

I fecking love Didi Hamann.

Mister men

noodler wrote: »

I fecking love Didi Hamann.

Living legend

Mr.Nice Guy

Always liked Hamann when I heard him on ITV. I think he's very good.

Kiwi_knock

This game has the potential to be a classic and save this tournament. Then again it could be another England-US game and leave us all disappointed.