Argentina v Germany
Football spread bettors may well get a sense of deja vu when settling down to watch Argentina and Germany on Saturday afternoon. These two sides faced each other in the quarter-finals at the last World Cup in Germany and the host nation eventually won on penalties after Miroslav Klose gave his spread goal minute buyers something to cheer with an 80th minute equaliser. This game is also a repeat of the 1990 final when the then West Germany last lifted the World Cup thanks to a 1-0 win. Since then spread bettors interested in buying Argentina's supremacy at 0.4 with Sporting Index will be encouraged that La Albiceleste haven't lost against the Germans. In six games there have been three wins for Argentina and three draws, with Gonzalo Higuain getting the solitary goal in the last meeting in March.
Argentina have undoubtedly been one of the most impressive sides at this year's tournament and spread buyers will have been enjoying Higuain's form nearly as much as Diego Maradona's celebrations. There is a genuine belief within the squad that they can win their first World Cup since 1986 and they can now be bought at 55 on the Sporting Index outright index. A worry for their supporters on the spreads, though, is that they were equally impressive in 2006 before succumbing to the Germans and there must be a slight doubt in their heads four years on.
The total goals market is an interesting one for spread punters to consider as both teams have started to find their scoring boots. Argentina have scored nine goals in their last three games, while the Germans have scored nine in their four games so far. However, spread sellers will be hoping for a repeat of the last game at a World Cup, while buyers will point to the 3-2 Argentina win in the 1986 final in Mexico. Supporters of Maradona's side on the spreads will point to the multitude of attacking options the coach has at his disposal and Germany's defence has looked slightly shaky at times. On the other hand, Miroslav Klose has once again found his form at the right time for his country and now has 12 World Cup goals, so there will undoubtedly be some spread bettors interested in his goal minutes quote.
Football-mad spread bettors will remember the aggressive World Cup final between these two in 1990 where the Argentineans lost their discipline. It was also quite feisty in 2006 with seven yellow cards handed out. Those two games would make bookings buyers on the spreads rub their hands together with glee, but Argentina, in particularly, have been very well disciplined so far in South Africa. There have been two or fewer bookings in three of their four games so far and only two cautions in Germany's last two games. However, the Germans' opening two games resulted in final make-ups of 75 and 105, so spread buyers will be hoping for a much more raucous game on Saturday.
Related links:
