Germany vs Slovakia– Preview and Prediction

Germany vs Slovakia
Euro 2016 – Round of 16
Date: Sunday, June 26, 2016,
Kick-off: 17:00 UK Time
Venue: Stade Pierre-Mauroy (Lille).

Germany meet up with Slovakia for the Euro 2016 knock out clash on Sunday at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille.

The defending World Champions finished top of their group with 2 wins and a draw. However, their performances were far from convincing much of this owe to their poor finishing. Germany manager Joachim Low has plenty of headache when his team take the field against a Slovakia side who had beat them in a friendly in the last week of May.

Slovakia qualified to the knockouts as one of the best third placed team with 4 points from their three group games. They fell to a surprise 2-1 defeat against Wales, which was followed by a 2-1 win against Russia and a goal less draw against a lackluster England. They are a team able to play some beautiful football at times, but are equally vulnerable at time.

Germany: Team News

Germany are handed a boost by the return of Mats Hummels, but his partner Jerome Boateng is a doubt after picking up a knock in the previous game. Joachim Low hardly tinker with his formation in major tournaments and the starting line-up is likely to remain the same as in the last group game against Northern Ireland.

Germany: Predicted Line-up

Neuer – Hector, Hummerls, Boateng, Howedes –Khedira, Kroos – Goetze, Ozil, Muller – Gomez.

Slovakia: Team News

Defenders Tomas Hubocan and Dusan Svento are major doubts for Slovakia for the round of 16 clash against Germany. While attacking midfielder Robert Mak is also sweating on his fitness, but is hopeful that he makes the cut in time.

Slovakia: Predicted Line-up (4-2-3-1)

Kozacik – Hubocan, Durica, Skrtel, Pekarik – Pecovsky, Kucka – Weiss, Hamsik, Mak – Nemec.

Germany vs Slovakia: Head-to-Head Stats

The teams had recently met in a warm-up match for the preparation for Euros on 29th May 2016 at WWK Arena in Augsburg. Slovakia came back from a goal behind to grab a priceless 3-1 victory on that occasion.

There is hardly anything to separate between the sides from the five meetings between them so far, as Germany had won 3 and Slovakia 2.

Also, both teams have scored in each of the last three meetings between them, with total goals staying over 2.5.

Germany vs Slovakia: Prediction

Germany hardly looked convincing in any of their three group games at the Euro 2016. Despite having plenty of talent in their armor, they look like a team disorganized and tired. They had kept clean sheets in each of their three games in the tournament, but their defense had committed plenty of mistakes. Slovakia is a counter attacking side and there is a good chance that they score here.

Slovakia are a side with some good players, but they can go to sleep at times and are likely to concede plenty of scoring chances. A misfiring German attack could find it as a perfect opportunity to come to life. So both teams to score will be my preferred tip of this round of 16 encounter and I expect to see over 2.5 goals.

Full Time Score Prediction: Germany 3-1 Slovakia.
Tips:

Both teams to Score and Germany to Win
Over 2.5 goals.
Over 0.5 goals at HT