Confederations Cup Preview: Germany vs Chile

Germany will take on Chile in the second group of their Confederations Cup group on Thursday. The World Cup champions clinched a 3-2 victory over Australia in their first outing with Julian Draxler, Lars Stindl and Leon Goretzka finding the net for Joachim Loew’s side. The Socceroos also offered a strong challenge of their own with goals from Tom Rogic and Tomi Juric, but they were largely outplayed by a young German squad.

Meanwhile, Chile had to sweat it out against Cameroon in their first game with late goals from Arturo Vidal and Eduardo Vargas handing them the win over their African counterparts. Alexis Sanchez was once again the creative force for the Copa America holders as he provided a key assist towards the nation’s triumph.

Players to watch for:

Sandro Wagner (Germany): The Hoffenheim striker recently opened his Germany account with a hat-trick against San Marino, and he could be expected to add more goals to his tally during the Confederations Cup. Loew decided to rest Mario Gomez for the tournament, and this has allowed Sandro to earn his moment at the age of 29. Sandro will still require the help of his compatriots as he managed most of his goals with depth touches in the Bundesliga.

Alexis Sanchez (Chile): The Arsenal frontman remains a crucial part of the Chile setup as he provides the much-needed creativity from the left side of the attack. Initially deemed doubtful for the opener, Sanchez made an appearance from the substitutes’ bench as he turned things around the South American nation. Arturo Vidal does make his presence felt at the heart of Chile’s midfield, but Sanchez adds the zest to the team with his tireless workrate.

Prediction:

The game could be dependent on how both teams line up on the day. A full strength Chile side should hold an edge over a talented but yet inexperienced German frontline.

Chile to win, 2-1

Image – Getty