Olympics: Canada vs. Germany – prediction, team news, lineups
Reigning Olympic champions Canada Women will face Germany Women in Saturday's quarter-final clash at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille.
Germany collected six points to advance to the last eight, while Canada won all three of their matches to reach the quarter-finals despite being hit with a six-point deduction.
Match preview
Canada have experienced a tumultuous Olympic campaign, having seen their manager Bev Priestman and members of their staff sent home following a spying scandal.
A FIFA investigation resulted in Canada being docked six points after a staff member was caught using a drone to spy on a closed New Zealand training session ahead of the opening game of the tournament.
The Canucks began their campaign with a 2-1 win over New Zealand, before they repeated that scoreline in their second group match against France, moving their points tally back to zero with a game left to play.
They ultimately backed up their first two results with another win in Wednesday's game against Colombia, with Vanessa Gilles scoring a second-half winner to clinch a 1-0 victory and a place in the quarter-finals.
As they look towards a tricky game against Germany, the 2020 gold medalists can take confidence from the fact they have prevailed in each of their last three quarter-final ties at the Olympics.
While Canada are looking to retain their Olympic crown, Germany are hoping to win the gold medal for the second time after previously winning the competition in 2016.
Horst Hrubesch's side collected six points from their three matches to finish in second position in Group B, three points behind four-time Olympic champions USA.
Germany began their campaign with a resounding 3-0 win over Australia, before they were stopped in their tracks by a 4-1 defeat to the USA.
However, they quickly got back on track with a 4-1 victory of their own in Wednesday's final group game against Zambia, which came courtesy of a Lea Schuller brace and efforts from Klara Buhl and Elisa Senss.
DFB-Frauen will now turn their attention to their third Olympic meeting with Canada after the two nations faced each other on two occasions at the 2016 Olympics when they lost 2-1 in the group stage, before getting revenge with a 2-0 victory in the semi-finals.
Canada Olympic Games form: WWW
Canada form (all competitions): DWWWWW
Germany Olympic Games form: WLW
Germany form (all competitions): WLWWLW
Canada vs. Germany odds
We expect this match to be one of the more interesting ones in the quarter-finals and the bookies tend to agree based on the odds. Germany Women are the expected winners with a 43.50% win probability, but Canada Women are not far behind with a 32.30% win probability.
Canada Women Odds: 21/10 – 32.30% probability
Draw Odds: 11/4 – 26.70% probability
Germany Women Odds: 13/10 – 43.50% probability
In line with this are the odds for the most popular goal markets, such as both teams to score, which is priced at 1/2 and has a 66.70% probability.
When it comes to overall goals, the odds on over 2.5 total goals are 3/5, which is the same as a 62.50% probability. On the other hand, under 2.5 total goals is priced at 6/4, which implies a 40.00% probability.
Team News
Manchester United full-back Jayde Riviere remains a doubt, having sat out Canada’s three group matches due to injury.
Gabrielle Carle, Quinn and Nichelle Prince could be recalled after the trio dropped down to the bench for the final group game.
Gilles may have scored in the last two matches, but her primary focus will be on shielding goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan when she features alongside Jade Rose and Kadeisha Buchanan in the back three.
As for Germany, Hrubesch is hopeful that Marina Hegering and Kathrin Hendrich will overcome their fitness issues to line up in central defence.
Bayern Munich’s Lea Schuller will continue to provide one of the main goal threats after finishing the group stage with three goals to her name.
Canada possible starting lineup: Sheridan; Rose, Gilles, Buchanan; Lawrence, Grosso, Fleming, Carle; Beckie, Prince, Leon
Germany possible starting lineup: Berger; Gwinn, Hendrich, Hegering, Rauch; Brand, Minge, Popp, Buhl; Nusken, Schuller
We say: Canada 2-1 Germany
We expect a clash between two top-quality sides to produce a close-fought contest, but we think Canada may just have the edge after winning all three of their group matches.
