Can Klinsmann Lead USA to Victory Over Germany: Tonight’s World Cup Betting Odds

USA take on Germany in tonight’s super-game, where the winner qualifies from top spot, and the loser might be eliminated.

The group stage at 2014 World Cup will close today with the last four matches. Yesterday, Argentina proved why they are considered to be among the favorites to lift the trophy, beating Nigeria and securing top spot in the group. Nigeria are also through, thanks to Bosnian victory over Iran.

In the other group the French second-tier squad couldn’t find the back of the net with Ecuador. But nonetheless Les Bleus made it through from top spot, eliminating Ecuador in the process. Switzerland were able to crush Honduras and grabbed the second qualifying spot. It’s it now Argentina against Switzerland and France versus Nigeria in the last 16.

But tonight will see a couple of hot battles in the last four World Cup group matches. Punters are ready to place wagers under American gambling laws on their team clashing with Germany for top spot in the group. The winner not only gets to qualify from first place, but will jeopardize the chances of the loser to get to the last 16.

Group G standings

Both USA and Germany will be content with a draw, but a win will guarantee progression and top spot. However, should either of them lose tonight, it will open a window for one of the other teams in the group, Ghana or Portugal, to squeeze past them into the knockouts.

USA exceeded expectations when they managed to clinch a 2-1 victory over Ghana thanks to John Brooks Jr's header in the last minutes of their opener. When Americans were facing Portugal, they were close to taking away all three points, but a stoppage time goal from Varela ended their game in 2-2.

USA will be facing Germany is one of the last group matches tonight
 
• Online sportsbooks in USA are already prepared to take wagers
• Both teams will be content with a draw result
• A loss tonight may mean elimination from the tournament

The peculiarity of the upcoming match lies in two German coaches: Jurgen Klinsmann for USA and Joachim Low for Germany. The two former German national players are good friends, and there have already been speculations that they will agree to play a draw, which is what both teams need, but we sincerely hope there’s no truth in the rumors and sportsmanship will prevail.

Klinsmann has of course managed the German team in 2006, when the World Cup was held on their soil. Die Manschaft progressed into the semi-finals where they lost 0-2 to Italy, but went on to clinch the bronze medals beating Portugal 3-1. Joachim Low was Klinsmann’s assistant at the time, so the upcoming game has more to it than meets the eye.

Germany started the tournament out by humiliating Portugal 4-0, with Thomas Muller scoring a hat-trick. But a very resilient Ghana held them to a 2-2 draw in a highly intense match. The lead changed several times in that game sending shivers of excitement down the spines of punters wagering at online sportsbooks in Germany.

Miroslav Klose, scored an equalizing goal in the 71st minute of the game, which meant 15th World Cup goal for the 36-year-old German striker. This record puts him on equal terms with Brazil’s Ronaldo record, but of course Klose will have at least one more game to try and beat that.

Comments from the coaches

Here’s what Klinsmann had to say about the game: "We're not made for ties. The United States is known to give everything they have in every single game. We have that fighting spirit, and we give everything in every game. We will go to Recife and we will give everything to beat Germany.” He went on to add: “Both teams go into this game and they want to win the group. So we go into this game and try to beat Germany. To put ourselves in the driver seat for the last-16, that is our goal."

Hansi Flick, Germany’s assistant coach, share the following: "The play-offs have effectively begun for us. We want to beat the USA to finish the group stages top and play in Porto Alegre. We looked at the 90 minutes against Ghana to see what we liked and the things we need to improve.”

He added: “We want the team to react in a more clever fashion and cut out the space behind when the opposition counter-attack us. We have a few things to iron out and we have enough quality to create chances, but we have to close down the space behind."

Betting on the game and the teams’ form

Team USA are on excellent form, boasting W W W W D including the recent tie with Portugal, while Germany are also good with D D W W D after the tie with Ghana. Meaning that the teams will face each other on pretty equal form, providing fans and those who bet on sports in the USA with extra-exciting match.

No one is suspended on Team USA, but Klinsmann has to do without Jozy Altidore suffering from a hamstring injury. The most probable line-up for the Americans will include: Howard, Besler, Cameron, Beasley, Johnson, Bradley, Jones, Beckerman, Bedoya, Dempsey, and Green

Sami Khedira’s and Jerome Boateng’s participation for Germany is in doubt, but luckily there are no suspensions Joachim Low has to deal with. The line-up will most probably be made of Neuer, Mustafi, Hummels, Lahm, Mertesacker, Howedes, Schweinsteiger, Kroos, Ozil, Muller, and Gotze.

The Germans are of course by far the favorites to win the match with 1.61 odds from Bovada, while USA had to settle for a much longer line of 9.50, and the draw pays at 3.30. German 2-0 and 2-1 wins pay at equal lines of 8.00, but 1-0 success for USA has massive 21.00 odds on it, making it a very attractive wager.

Thomas Muller is widely expected to strike first with 4.75 odds, followed by his teammate and record-hunter Miroslav Klose at 6.00. Mario Gotze is also up there with 6.50 odds to score first. As for the Americans, they are much further down the line. Clint Dempsey’s chances of finding the back of the net first are valued with 10.00 odds, while Aron Johannsson is priced at 11.00 to score first.