Germany was expected to make to the quarterfinals of the World Cup, while many were a little shaky on France after Franck Ribery went down. However, you could argue that the French have been the better team than the Germans and their meeting in the final eight on Friday could be the best quarterfinal match of the bunch.
World Cup Odds: Germany +150, France +215, Draw +205
Odds to Advance: Germany -145, France +125
Why France Can Win
France has to compete with Germany’s loaded midfield in order to win this game, and they’ll need huge games from Paul Pogba, Mathieu Valbuena, Yohan Cabaye and Blaise Matuidi. Pogba has been getting most of the attention and rightfully so, especially after his performance in a 2-0 win over Nigeria, while Valbuena has been given free license to join Karim Benzema and Olivier Giroud up front and has done so. But Cabaye and Matuidi have been quietly solid in allowing those two to get forward, and they will have to be sturdy to help protect the defense since Germany has a lot of attacking talent.
France came into this tournament under the radar for their usual standards, but they have been growing in confidence with each game and they have dominated every game they’ve played. However, the Germans are a different sort of challenge and they will have to raise their game a level on Friday.
Why Germany Can Win
Germany are well-deserved favorites to win the World Cup and they don’t panic when things don’t go their way. Look at their 2-2 draw with Ghana, who gave the Germans a run for their money, but Germany never looked like they were going to lose that game. They did need all 120 minutes on the clock to beat Algeria 2-1 and the Algerians also put a scare or two into Germany, but they were always in control and that sort of resolve is going to be needed the further they go into the tournament. Their experience at international and club level is extremely important to Germany’s success.
But they have to sort out some problems at the back and if they get eliminated, that will be their downfall. Germany’s defense had all kinds of problems with Algeria’s speed to the point that keeper Manuel Neuer had to act as a sweeper at times, and with all due respect to Algeria, France is much better. Germany’s midfielders might have to drop back a little more.
Outlook
France and Germany have met 10 times in their history and both teams have won World Cups and European Championships in the past, but this will be their first meeting in a major tournament. The French have won five and drawn two of those 10 meetings and the two split a home-and-home in 2012 and 2013 by matching 2-1 scorelines; the away team won in both games.
This has the chance to be the best game of the quarterfinals, and whoever wins the battle in the midfield will go to the semifinals. Germany wins by the slimmest of margins.
Pick: Germany
