Joachim Low's side have responded to their pre-tournament critics in excellent fashion up to now, getting stronger as the competition has gone on and delivering an almost complete performance in their comfortable 3-0 defeat of Slovakia in the round of 16 last time out. The world champions remain unbeaten after four games and have still not conceded a single goal in clashes with Ukraine, Northern Ireland, Poland and the Slovakians, while central midfielder Toni Kroos and defender Jerome Boateng have been two of the standout players in the entire tournament so far.
Germany have looked a much more balanced team since bringing Bayern Munich man Joshua Kimmich into the starting XI, moreover, while Julian Draxler also did his chances of a regular place in the line-up no harm with an excellent showing on the left-hand side of midfield in the triumph over Slovakia last weekend.
Italy booked their place in the last eight by overcoming European Championship holders Spain in the round of 16, with Antonio Conte’s charges running out deserved 2-0 winners at the Stade de France in Paris. The Azzurri had delivered two rather disappointing displays in their two previous outings, narrowly beating Sweden 1-0 thanks to Eder’s late goal and then going on to lose 1-0 to the Republic of Ireland, but their response here was terrific and provided further evidence of why they are an extremely dangerous side to play against – particularly when they are underdogs, just as they will be this weekend.
Italy have recorded three clean sheets in their last four encounters, with Conte’s men solid at the back and very tough to break down, but they have also shown against both Belgium – who were defeated 2-0 in the two sides’ opening game at Euro 2016 last month – and Spain that they are capable of causing opponents plenty of problems at the other end of the pitch.
Germany will control possession of the ball on Saturday night, but Italy have not simply sunk back on the edge of their own box and hoped for the best in France so far; indeed, while the four-time World Cup winners allowed both Belgium and Spain to have the majority of the ball when they faced off, they also pressed high at times and got bodies forward on the counter-attack when possession changed hands. The fact that Germany have never got the better of them in international tournament history will not have escaped the Italians’ attention, either.
Having said that, however, it is likely that Low’s side will prove a little too strong for the Azzurri this weekend. Both teams should get on the scoresheet but a 2-1 victory for the Germans looks like the best correct scoreline bet, while Bayern Munich forward Thomas Muller is worth backing to end his goal drought and find the back of the net for the first time at a European Championship.
.png)
