GERMANY v ARGENTINA - THE BEAN PREVIEW

Germany 17/10 (Bet Direct) - Draw 21/10 (Bet Direct) - Argentina 15/8 (Bet Direct)

It is time for the last eight of this year's World Cup and to kick of the quarter finals we have a repeat of the 1986 and 1990 World Cup Finals as the Germans take on the Argentineans. Since Germany's 1-0 win in Rome to lift the World Cup, they have failed to beat their South American opposition. In the four games Argentina have won twice and drawn twice.

The host nation can breathe a sigh of relief as two of their most influential players have shaken off injuries. Michael Ballack's swollen ankle has gone down and Miroslav Klose's bout of tendonitis has cleared.

Luis Gonzalez has recuperated from a groin injury and should be able to slot in at right midfield. Leandro Cufre is likely to replace West Ham full back Lionel Scaloni, while Nicolas Burdisso is a major doubt.

The bookmakers are in a fluster in this match, as they all do not agree who is the favourite in this match, so it is a perfect opportunity to do an arbitrage bet. For more details check here.

This match should be a really open free-flowing game and a few goals should be scored. I also think it will be unlikely that either team will keep a clean sheet. In the last two meetings between the two nations the score has been 2-2. For the same result you can get odds of 16/1. A 1-1 draw has odds of 11/2.

Germany has the advantage of the home support backing them, and they have been the twelfth man since the competition began. It should be a real cauldron of noise at the Olympiastadion. Another fact to add to the equation is Germany has appeared in twelve semi-finals out of sixteen, which is a hell of an achievement. For Germany to win 2-1 the odds are 19/2 with Bet Direct. For 3-1 it is 28/1. And a 3-2 victory has odds of 40/1.

With that been said, the Argentineans have been one of the more impressive forces in this years World Cup and they have not been beaten by the Germans since 1990. They will want to bury the burden of South American teams cannot win the World Cup on European soil, and what better way than to knockout the host nation. For Argentina to win 2/1 you can get odds of 10/1. For a 3-1 win the odds are 28/1 and a 3-2 victory is 40/1 with Bet Direct.

My prediction - Germany 2-1 (19/2 Bet Direct)

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