Germany vs. Japan Bet Builder Tips: 7/1 double for Wednesday's 1pm game
Germany vs Japan is one of four matches taking place on Wednesday as the World Cup gets into full swing. Here are our best Builder Tips for the match, with this 7/1 shout at Betfair our focus.
Group E is as close to a "Group of Death" as the 2022 World Cup gets. Both Germany and Spain occupy this setting, and will be duking it out for top spot and a more favourable first knockout fixture.
That puts Japan and Costa Rica right up against it for progressing beyond the group stages during this tournament. But never say never.
Germany were sent packing at this stage following defeat to another East Asian country at the 2018 edition. Spain have also been put to the sword during the group stages as recently as the 2014 Finals in Brazil.
Germany vs Japan Bet Builder Tips
But that's not what we're expecting from this opener. Germany will go in search of equalling five-time champions Brazil's record as World Cup winners, and head coach Hansi Flick has made them a force to be reckoned with once again.
The former Bayern Munich coach has lost just once since taking charge of the national side, boasting nine wins during these 15 matches. Continuity has been key for Germany's revitilisation under new stewardship, and that's where Flick's success with his former club comes into play.
Serge Gnabry became a vital cog in the Flick machine at Bayern and that club-based connection has been transferred over to the international stage since his appointment.
The midfielder-turned-forward is expected to be deployed as the lone striker in a 4-2-3-1 system, and is best priced at 39/20 with Unibet to net against Japan. That alone could be exceptional value given his killer instincts at club level this term, and also considering his record when on international duty.
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Gnabry has netted 20 times in 36 appearances for Germany since his debut in November 2016, including four goals in Hansi Flick's first four games in charge.
And although he's been in and out of the team as of late, they aren't exactly endowed with options in the centre forward position.
Serge is on track to register his best goalscoring season yet in the Bundesliga, having notched eight times from 15 games so far. Couple that with the likes of Muller, Sane, Havertz and Musiala all providing service to him and Germany could run riot over Japan.
The second part of this Bet Builder is also Serge Gnabry-themed, and pits him to assist a teammate as well as finding the net himself.
Gnabry has made a name for himself for both scoring and assisting since switching England for Germany. Here are how his assist tallies look in relation to his goal contributions for each season since entering the Bundesliga:
- 16/17 (Wolfsburg): 27 apps, 13 contributions (2 assists)
- 17/18 (Hoffenheim): 34 apps, 19 contributions (5 assists)
- 18/19 (Bayern): 30 apps, 17 contributions (7 assists)
- 19/20 (Bayern): 31 apps, 23 contributions (11 assists)
- 20/21 (Bayern): 27, 15 contributions (5 assists)
- 21/22 (Bayern): 34 apps, 19 contributions (5 assists)
- 21/22 (Bayern): 15 apps, 12 contributions (4 assists)
He has a further three assists from the Champions League group stages this campaign, taking his tally to seven for the 2022-23 season - a number which puts him on track for his best return in this category since joining the Bundesliga.
Flick's tactical setup allows for a lot of fluidity at the top end of the pitch, which should provide ample opportunities for runners beyond Gnabry.
