Germany (1) v Ukraine (22) – Group C – 8pm (BBC) – 12.06.16 – Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille
A major concern for Joachim Low heading into this tournament will be his side’s defence. While they kept five clean sheets in their seven World Cup matches, they’ve managed just four clean sheets in their 17 games since that triumph in Brazil, and two of those were against Gibraltar.
When playing sides they’re ranked between 15 and 30 places higher than, their record since 2011 is W4-D4-L3 and both teams scored in all 11 of these matches, with each seeing more than two goals and eight having more than three strikes.
When playing sides ranked in the world’s top-10, Ukraine’s record since 2009 in all matches is W3-D3-L6, though they did manage to find the net in eight of these games and only once lost by more than one goal.
The record of sides in the top-10 when playing sides they’re ranked between 10 and 30 places higher than in the opening match of World Cups and Euros since 2004 is W17-D4-L2, but interestingly the higher ranked team has only managed one clean sheet in the seven of these games since the start of the last Euros. This, together with the fact that Germany have struggled defensively since the World Cup means that both teams to score looks the best bet in this one and Over 2.5 Goals is also certainly worth consideration.
Recommendation: Both Teams to Score 1.95
