Germany v Italy Euro 2012 Semi Final – Gomez To Return In Style

Kick Off: Thursday 28th June
Live on BBC1 7.45pm

Germany will go into this tantalising semi-final match up as favourites to progress to the final as the self-proclaimed total tournament team. They can, and generally do always up their game for the major tournaments and have been improving year on year after a huge re-shuffle following failures at the turn of the millennium, making them a solid tip to progress.

Today they have to try and achieve what they could not quite accomplish just 6 years ago, as a less fancied Italian side powered past them on the way to World Cup glory in Dortmund, after 120 minutes of battling.

However, even without home advantage, the bookies’ make pre-tournament second favourites the ones to beat this time round. Germany are 10/11 favourites to march on and face Spain in the neutrals dream final. The underdogs, and conquerors of England, Italy are a 7/2 shot with the draw a respectable 12/5 with Paddy Power.

Germany and especially their commander in chief Joachim Lowe would have been licking their lips at the prospect of facing either Italy or England in the semi’s as neither team really flattered to deceive in what was a game full of chances but severely lacking in quality if truth be told!

Paddy Power Match Odds
Germany 10/11
Draw 12/5
Italy 7/2

The German machine looks well oiled and all set to dispatch of an average if not battling Italy side led by the ever majestic Andrea Pirlo.

Although, the way in which Glen Johnson and others almost sauntered through the under-strength and Chiellini-less Italy backline with ease at times, must have had the Germans foaming at the mouth to get stuck in, in this the last Semi-Final.

Lowe rested his entire forward line and still watched as they smashed 4 past sorry Greece, and the top scorers in the summer’s tournament will look to press on and reach the final with Spain.

The 10/11 is as good as a banker as you’ll see all year in my eyes, and must be taken advantage of as early as possible, I can’t imagine it’ll be around come 19:45 tomorrow.