Karma is Algeria’s only hope against Germany

Algeria‘s inability to keep clean sheets spell doom for it when it faces Germany in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil round of 16 in what one can describe as a grudge match.

One remembers the 1982 FIFA World Cup Spain as if it was yesterday and the disgraceful antics of West Germany and Austria that resulted in the elimination of Algeria. In those days, the third batch of FIFA World Cup group games were not played simultaneously and, therefore, Algeria had to sit and watch West Germany and Austria play each other knowing that a 1-0 win for the Germans would qualify both European teams for the second round and oust the African side. Needless to say, West Germany beat Austria 1-0 in a match that forced FIFA to change its rules moving forward.

Based on what one saw during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil group stage, karma is Algeria’s best hope of beating Germany in Porto Alegre. One was not all that surprised that Algeria qualified for the knockout stage ahead of Group H opponents Russia and South Korea because the Fennec Foxes were one of the genuinely underrated teams before the tournament kicked off and they were drawn in a weak pool. However, Germany is in a different class to Belgium, Russia and South Korea and the fact that Algeria conceded goals in each of its Group H matches should be sufficient to put off anyone backing the Fennec Foxes from qualifying for the quarter-finals.

It is impossible to get rich betting on Germany simply to defeat Algeria in regulation time to reach the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil last eight because Die Mannschaft are very short odds so one has to go into the exotic markets to find an attractive bet. Germany to cover a one-goal handicap and the double result of Germany/Germany are available at about the same odds. One decided to go with Germany to win by two or more goals at odds of 1.88 with 188sport and Unibet.

France and Nigeria meet in Brasilia in the day’s other 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil round of 16 game. France is odds on to beat Nigeria in regulation time and that is fair enough.

The manner of France’s 5-2 defeat of 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group E seed Switzerland was impressive and Les Bleus have lost only one of their last 14 matches since going down 0-3 to A Selecao in a Porto Alegre friendly game this time last year. France’s only recent defeat was 0-2 to Ukraine and it rectified that horror show by winning the second leg of its 2014 UEFA qualification play-off 3-0 in Paris. France lost Franck Ribery to injury on the eve of the competition but one would not have guessed it from their first two performances but a forgivable fizzer versus Ecuador.

Nigeria could not break down Iran, rode its luck against Bosnia and Herzegovina and, ultimately, could not go goal for goal with Argentina. Nigeria’s only win its last seven matches was that 1-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in Cuiaba in which Edin Dzeko hit the post in the final minute. Nigeria’s nickname is the Super Eagles but super is not what the African side has been in recent years. Like Algeria, Nigeria finished second in a relatively weak group, losing to the one and only decent team in its preliminary section.

France is much stronger defensively than Argentina so one thinks that a win to nil for Les Bleus against a Nigeria side that has failed to score in four of its last nine games, averaging under one goal per match in its matches versus Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ghana Greece, Iran, Mexico Scotland, the United States of America and Zimbabwe. France has keep a clean sheet in six of its last 11 games, winning seven of them to nil. Sky Bet and Youwin are offering odds of 2.38 about France beating Nigeria in regulation time and not conceding a goal.

Tips Summary

Germany to beat Algeria by 2 or more goals
30th June 21:00 GMT
Odds: 1.88
Where to Bet: 188sport, Unibet

France to beat Nigeria to nil
30th June 17:00 GMT
Odds: 2.38
Where to Bet: Sky Bet, Youwin