Germany vs Italy Nation League  

This Tuesday features a game between two giants of the soccer world as Germany takes on Italy in the Nations League. These two teams are both loaded with talent all over the pitch and will hopefully produce another exciting game for all to watch. These two nations are meeting for the second time in just over a week. The last match saw two second half goals within mere minutes of each other lead to a 1-1 draw between the two sides. 

 

With the Nations League occurring following the end of soccer clubs’ domestic seasons, the players that will feature in these games are very tired and in need of a rest. The result of players feeling this way leads to a heavy risk of rotation in the lineups making these games difficult to predict. A lot of the players for these big nations have been outspoken in their anger for this competitions inability to give players time off. Nevertheless, the games will go on and the teams will play their games.  

 

Germany enters this game as the favorites, despite not winning any of their Nations League games so far in this competition. The Germans have failed to score more than once in their 3 games so far in this competition, and have earned three straight draws by a 1-1 score line. Despite not being able to win a game as of yet, German midfielder, Joshua Kimmich, spoke out about how he felt his side should have taken all three points last time against Italy. 

 

“Whether the point was deserved or not, I don’t know, but it was too little. We know that Italy are in transition at the moment and didn’t necessarily have their best team on the pitch, so we wanted to win. We didn’t always manage to play our game, we weren’t as intense as we wanted to be, perhaps that was down to the humidity and heat. I know I had a chance to make it 2-1 as well, maybe I should have scored that.” 

Now with a chance for redemption on Tuesday, expect Kimmich and Germany to be hungry for more against an Italian side that has been struggling to find its footing as of late. 

 

The Italians have won once and drawn two games so far in these Nations League games. However, the shadow that hangs over their heads is that they will not be participating in this year’s World Cup in December after failing to qualify. Like the Germans, Italy has been heavily rotating players in this competition. This lack of fit players can be seen as part of the reason the Italians have been struggling to find the back of the net thus far. 

 

In the three games that Italy has played so far in this competition, they have only scored three goals. Two of those goals have come against Hungary, the weakest team in their group. After a one goal performance against Germany and a 0-0 draw against England, the lack of creativity in the final third of the pitch is apparent for all to see.  

 

The Italians are not the only side that has been short of goals in this competition, as Germany has also had their issues in front on net. The Germans have only scored 3 goals in three games so far in these games, drawing every game 1-1. 

 

Looking ahead into the betting side of this game, I expect the lack of goals to continue. I think with Germany’s defensive back five that they rolled out last time out against Hungary, you can expect the Germans to set up shop defensively and require Italy to do something special to get behind them. The odds for Italy’s goals to be under 0.5 is at +135 which is a bet that I like. I think with the Italians lack of dynamic finishers in the attack will be the downfall of them in this game, and I could very well see Germany posting a shutout.  

 

Over to the actual game itself, and I think Germany will start this game very strong, under pressure to get the first win of their Nations League campaign. Germany’s odds to win the first half at +130, which is a bet that I also like. I think that with Leroy Sane rested against Hungary last game, he is someone who will come into this game fresh and capable of making a difference. His lightning pace on the wing will surely give the Italians headaches as they try to keep up with him. 

 

Going back to the big picture of the game, with both teams struggling to score, I like the game total of under 2.5 goals at -125 to be in play. Italy and Germany are both struggling to score, and with these two teams having played each other just over a week ago, they will know how the other will line up and how they will play. This will lead to a lot of stale soccer where the teams are feeling each other out and trying to wait for the perfect opportunity to take advantage and score a goal. 

 

For the full time result I like Germany to win which is currently at -133 odds. My full time prediction for this match is 2-0 Germany, as I can see the Italians being too tired to keep up with the German’s pace and counter attack. If the Italians were to pull something off in this game, I would think they would have to score early, but with their rotation issues and players being tired, I cannot see them getting that quick start. 

 

This game will kick off  this Tuesday, June 14th, at 2:45pm ET.