Prediction: Germany vs Northern Ireland

Verdict: Germany win and under 3.5 goals

Best Odds: 21/20

Bookmaker: Bet365

Looking to secure their spot at next year’s European Championships as Group C winners, Germany will welcome a resilient Northern Ireland to the Commerzbank-Arena in Frankfurt on Tuesday night.

Germany

Starting with the hosts, while Germany may have already secured their spot at EURO 2020, the former world champions have their sights set on ending their qualifying campaign at the top of Group C. Holding a two-point buffer over bitter rivals Holland, Joachim Low’s side have won six of their seven appearances this year and they once again caught the eye in their routine 4-0 victory over Belarus last week. Along with Low’s new youthful side recording three Group C clean sheets on the bounce, including a 2-0 win in Belfast last month, one man who has continued to spearhead Germany’s recent revival is RB Leipzig marksman, Timo Werner. Bagging a brace against Hertha Berlin prior to the international break, the 23-year-old has nine goals in his last nine matchups for club and country. Despite calling for more time to allow his new-look squad to gel, Low will be looking for his side to find some stability on home soil. The Whites have won just a pair of the last six matches that they have hosted, with those two victories coming against Estonia and Belarus.

Team News

Kai Havertz and Marco Reus are both unavailable for Low having withdrawn from the squad due to injury.

Knowing that victory on Tuesday would see them be crowned as Group C winners, Low could be tempted to start with the same XI that beat Belarus last week.

Northern Ireland

As for the visitors, while Northern Ireland may have once again impressed after picking up a 0-0 draw against Holland at Windsor Park over the weekend, the Greens have seen any chance of reaching EURO 2020 automatically come to an abrupt end. Now having to settle for a play-off showdown if they’re to reach next year’s European Championships, Head Coach Micheal O’Neil is looking to keep the morale in his camp at a high before taking over the vacant role at Championship outfit Stoke City. With an ever-growing reputation for their rugged displays, they did land a 3-2 win in the Czech Republic last month and Ireland have won three of their last four matches outside of Belfast. However, along with suffering a 2-0 defeat when the two nations met in Belfast last month, the Greens hold a worrying record against Tuesday’s hosts. Northern Ireland have lost each of their previous eight matchups against Germany, a run that stems back to a 1-1 draw in November 1996.

Team News

With no new injury or suspensions to worry about in midweek, O’Neil should be looking to name the same starting XI that so admirably held off Holland over the weekend.

Key Factors to Consider

• Germany have won each of their last nine consecutive matches against Northern Ireland, including a 2-0 win last month.
• RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner has nine goals in his last nine matches for club and country.
• The Whites have recorded three qualifying clean sheets on the bounce.
• Northern Ireland have failed to win any of their last three Group C matches.
• The Greens have also scored just a single goal on that run.

Conclusion

While Northern Ireland have rightfully gained a reputation for their continued resilience and snatching a point off of Holland over the weekend, it is hard to look past their struggles against the former world champions. With Germany landing a 2-0 victory when the two nations faced off in Belfast last month, we’re backing Joachim Low’s side to have just enough firepower to come past the Greens on Tuesday and clinch top spot in Group C.

Verdict: Germany win and under 3.5 goals

Best Odds: 21/20

Bookmaker: Bet365