EURO Thursday

Top rate tipping from Tom here, as the match finished 3-2 to Germany.

Readers of my previews before the start of the tournament will know that I was very keen on the chances of the Germans.

They have yet to impress me however and having failed to win Group B now face a tougher quarter-final than was anticipated. Portugal stand in their way of a place in the last four and I really don’t know what to expect.

Germany have mastered the art of progressing at major tournaments more often than not over time and if you have backed them in the outright you’ll cling to the hope that they’ve one big performance in them.

That is what will be required to get the better of a decent looking Portugal side but all the evidence so far at Euro 2008 indicates a win for Scolari’s men. They could afford to rest nearly all their key men in their final fixture against Switzerland, having secured top spot in Group A with a game to spare, and are rightly favourites.

In the match odds market the teams are priced correctly. However, I do think the bookmakers have underestimated the probability of goals between these two and I see both sides scoring. A top price of 2.50 is surely overgenerous considering the amount of attacking talent on display but that is not the only reason to get stuck in.

Germany have certainly looked less than stable at the back while I have little doubt that Portugal can also be got at in behind. Ricardo looks well past his best and I am not convinced by their fullbacks either.

Germany could have success out wide and if Klose, and in particular Mario Gomez, should he retain his starting place, rediscover anything like their best form then this could be a real cracker.