2018 World Cup Odds and Prediction: Germany Team Betting Preview

This team is so loaded that Mario Gotze, the golden goal scorer from the 2014 final in Brazil, didn’t make the squad and he’s not even the biggest omission.

2018 Germany World Cup Betting Odds

Odds to advance to knockout stages: -1200
Odds to win the World Cup: +404
Number of World Cup wins: 66
FIFA world ranking: No. 1
Manager: Joachim Low
Captain: Manuel Neuer

Germany Players to Watch

Thomas Muller broke out on the international scene at the 2010 World Cup in South African when he bagged five goals as a fresh-faced, 20-year-old kid. He’s coming off two down years at Bayern Munich, but the now 28-year-old forward saves his peak performances for his country.

He’s scored 38 goals in 90 appearances with the German shirt on and he’s expected to feature prominently in Low’s starting 11.

Germany World Cup Formation and Projected Starting 11

Low is flexible in his formations. He’s set his team up in a 4-2-3-1, a 4-5-1 and sometimes even a 3-5-2. He will adapt how his squad lineup in the knockout stages when the competition increases, but bettors should expect to see the Germans in a 4-2-3-1 formation in the group stage.

Bayern keeper and Germany captain Manuel Neuer is tipped to start in goal despite missing the last eight months with a fracture foot. His Bayern teammates Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels will handle the starting centre backs roles while Jonas Hector and Joshua Kimmich will take over the left and right back positions.

Toni Kroos and Sami Khedira are expected to man the central midfield, Mesut Ozil will play in front of those two in the No. 10 role, Muller and Marco Reus will play the two wide areas, and Timo Werner is tipped to start in the striker role.

Germany Strengths

Continuity and stability are two things the Germans have in their favour. Ozil, Khedira and Kroos have been staples in Die Mannschaft’s midfield for the better part of the decade, and four fifths of Germany’s back five are teammates are Bayern Munich.

Germany Weaknesses

Neuer was widely regarded as the best keeper in the world before he suffered the foot injury in September. He played for the first time since the injury only last week and yet Low is still moving forward with Neuer as his No. 1 keeper.

Germany News

There is so much depth to the talent pool in Germany that there was always going to be headlines when Low trimmed his squad from 27 to 23. The biggest name among the four cuts was Leroy Sane – the starting left forward for Manchester City and the winner of the 2017-18 PFA Young Player of the Year.

Germany Betting Predictions

The defending World Cup champions are just a year removed from their first place finish at the FIFA Confederations Cup. They’re on a short list of teams with a realistic shot of winning the tournament in Russia and their fans will be disappointed they’re bounced before the final. Check for their current World Cup match odds here. 

Toni Kroos was a menace for Germany in the Brazil four years ago and he could be set up for a similar dominant summer in Russia. The Real Madrid midfielder collected four assists and two goals at the 2014 World Cup for Germany and Sports Interaction lists his odds at +3500 to win the Golden Ball.