Thursday night sees the biggest clash in Group C as reigning World Cup holders Germany face off with Poland and Will Burns provides some best bets for this huge encounter.
Thursday 16th June 2016 – 20:00 BST
EURO 2016 – GROUP C
GERMANY v POLAND
Die Nationalmannschaft put in a less than convincing display against Ukraine in their first game, but they did what champions do and won. The same could be said for Poland as they found Northern Ireland hard to break down, but when it mattered Ajax striker Arek Milik popped up with the solitary but all important goal to give Adam Nawalka’s side the victory.
For Germany, Mats Hummels misses out again so Sunday’s goalscorer Shkodran Mustafi will keep his place in the heart of the German defence with Jerome Boateng. FC Koln’s Jonas Hector, who has filled the huge boots of Philipp Lahm, will again sit at left-back, with Benedikt Höwedes on the right. Their dazzling trio of attacking midfielders, Julian Draxler, Mesut Özil and Thomas Müller, will be productively creating behind the striker, which may be Mario Gomez after a poor display from Mario Gotze against Ukraine.
Poland were the highest scorers in qualification and the fact that they managed to beat the Germans in that campaign will no doubt form a large part of Nawalka’s team talk when they go up against them again on Thursday.
The Poles may have to change goalkeeper as Arsenal’s Wojciech Szczesny suffered an thigh injury on Sunday and is an early doubt for this match. Lukasz Fabianski would be a more than capable replacement should Szczesny not recover in time. Other than that, the side should be unchanged from the team which was victorious against Northern Ireland. This would mean impressive youngster Bartosz Kaputska, this week linked with a move to Dutch giants Ajax, keep his place on the left-wing, putting himself in the shop window again.
With both sides with a win already under their belt and easier games ahead, I see this match ending a score draw (33/10 at Paddy Power) and it should be an absolute barnburner!
If you’re betting… good luck!
TIP: Draw (4.33 at PaddyPower)
TIP: Correct Score – Germany 2-2 Poland (19.00 at Bet365)
