Originally, Manchester City shot-stopper Joe Hart was in the England squad and expected to guard the goal, however, he has since fallen to injury and been replaced by Tom Heaton. Burnley captain Heaton will unlikely receive any game-time against Germany or the Netherlands, so Hodgson may be tempted to use Hart’s absence as an opportune moment to ask emerging goalkeeping stand-out Jack Butland to step-up.
Fleet-footed Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling has also had to be dropped, as Hodgson explained on the official website of The FA: “Obviously it’s very disappointing for Joe and Raheem to suffer injuries which will rule them out of our games against Germany and Holland. They are important players in our squad and I wish them a speedy recovery [but] Tom [Heaton] has been with us on several occasions and I am welcoming him back into the fold.”
Elsewhere, the first team virtually picks itself. It would be refreshing if Hodgson picked players like Leicester City machine Danny Drinkwater and Tottenham Hotspur break-through utility Eric Dier from the off, but it is understood players like Jordan Henderson could be preferred with Drinkwater coming on in the second half.
In-form goal-scorers Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy will have their work cut out attempting to get one past Manuel Neuer, who will be protected by Mats Hummels.
England qualified for Euro 2016 with a 100% record in Group E. Roy Hodgson’s side lost for the first time in 15 games when beaten 2-0 in a friendly against Spain in Alicante four months ago but bounced back four days later to defeat France 2-0 at Wembley. England have only conceded in one of the last six games and have failed to score in two of their last nine away games.
Germany Coach Joachim Low will likely utilise Arsenal trequartista Mesut Ozil, while Thomas Muller is a guaranteed start – both Germans are always in vogue.
Low has called on 20-year-old Bayer Leverkusen central defender Jonathan Tah after Jerome Boateng and Benedikt Howedes were ruled out with injury. Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan misses out due to injury and Leverkusen winger Karim Bellarabi comes in for Schalke’s Leroy Sane. Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil is reunited with his World Cup winning colleagues after missing their last get-together against France.
Germany finished top of Euro 2016 qualifying Group D ahead of Poland but it wasn’t an easy ride for the World Champions. They suffered defeats in Poland and Republic of Ireland and were also held to a draw in their home game against the Irish. Low’s side took on France in a friendly in Paris last November and lost for the third time in seven games when going down 2-0 to the European Championship hosts. Germany have won their last two home games but have only kept one clean sheet in seven home games since lifting the World Cup in Brazil.
Football Betting Stats:
- Germany have won 6 drawn 1 and lost 3 of their last 10 matches
- England have won 7 drawn 2 and lost 1 of their last 10 matches
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Germany have scored an average of 2.1 goals and conceded an average of 1.1 goals per game
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, England have scored an average of 2.3 goals and conceded an average of 0.5 goals per game
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 6 of Germany’s previous 10 matches
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 4 of England’s previous 10 matches
Football Betting Predictions:
Germany v England is one of the great international football rivalries and it’s the home nation that has the best record of delivering when it matters most.