Online betting players know that Germany is usually going to be a threat at the World Cup, but no one saw their opening-game rout of Australia coming (unless you’re a German supporter). They’ll have a tougher test on Friday when they face Serbia in Group D action, but you can expect Germany to slide through with a victory.
What: World Cup Betting
When: Friday, June 18, 7:30 AM ET
Where: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Key Stats: Germany has 16 wins and four draws in 27 meetings with Serbia
The Storyline
Germany may have put together the best performance in the first volley of matches with their 4-0 destruction of Australia, although they were aided by a controversial straight-red card in the second half. Serbia were unlucky to lose 1-0 to Ghana due to a penalty, but it was a deserved penalty and now Serbia face an uphill climb against Germany, who have a great record against the Serbs: 16 wins and four draws in 27 matches, outscoring them 49-32.
Who Has The Edge On Offense: Germany Serbia Betting
Where to start for Germany? They scored four goals with four different players, and their build-up play was almost Brazil-like in the way they passed it around. Their experienced players came to the forefront as Lukas Podolski, Miroslav Klose and Bastian Schweinsteiger all played brilliantly for the Germans, who put the match away with two more goals in a three-minute span in the second half.
Serbia really failed to do anything against Ghana, and they had problems controlling the midfield as both teams had 50% of possession. Milan Jovanovic was muted in his 76 minutes on the pitch, and only two of their 14 shots found the target (neither of their forwards had a shot). They’re going to have to do much better if they want a chance to pulling off the upset.
Edge: Germany
Who Has The Edge In Defense: Germany Serbia Betting
Germany’s defense really didn’t have much to do against an Australian team that wanted no parts of a back-and-forth with the Germans, but they were solid when they had to be. Only two of Australia’s 11 attempts hit the target as Germany kept them on the outside, and they frustrated Tim Cahill into a red card, even if he probably didn’t deserve it.
Serbia’s defense was doing fine until Aleksandar Lukovic received his second yellow card after 74 minutes, and then it was Zdravko Kuzmanovic’s handball 10 minutes later to give Ghana the penalty they needed. In the World Cup, it doesn’t take that much, and 90 solid minutes can be ruin with a moment or two of insanity, which is what happened to Serbia.
Edge: Germany
Notable Injuries – Germany Serbia Betting
Both teams managed to come away from their opening games unscathed, health-wise, but Lukovic (suspension) will definitely win this match.
Edge: Germany
Totals – Germany Serbia Betting
We’re not banking on another four-goal haul for Germany, as Serbia is much better defensively than Australia, but it’s going to be tougher for the Serbs without one of their first-choice defenders/
Pick: UNDER 2.5
Germany Serbia Betting Prediction & Outlook
Germany is a -175 favorite in this contest, while Serbia is rated at +500, and a draw comes in at +270, and the Germans looked like a well-oiled machine against Australia, but it won’t be that easy against Serbia, who was uncharacteristically undisciplined in the later stages of the Ghana game. They won’t want to get into an open match with Germany, who has more attacking options than Serbia, and with another solid win, Germany could move up the sports betting ladder in terms of the World Cup favorites.,
Bet World Cup: Germany -175