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Germany
Germany are undefeated this season notching up five wins a draw in their last six outings. Most recently they were held 0-0 by Italy, but Die Mannschaft are already a street ahead in their World Cup 2018 qualifying group and look set to book their place in Russia with ease.
They currently sit third in the FIFA World Rankings, behind Brazil and Argentina, and are unquestionably one of the finest teams in world football right now. The German machine just keeps on rolling - eight of their current squad are 23 or under, and it seems as soon as one player retires from the international set up, there's someone ready to come in and take their place.
Jogi Loew will have to do without the great Manuel Neuer for this one - he's pulled out with a calf injury.
England
To be frank, England are everything Germany are not. Almost a year of licking their wounds since the crushing defeat by Iceland at Euro 2016, which was just two years of navel-gazing after a disappointing 2014 World Cup, itself another two years since they embarrassed themselves at Euro 2012 against Italy, from which that was a 'transition period' after the farce of World Cup 2010, following a Euro 2008 for which they didn't qualify, England are now managed by the inexperienced Gareth Southgate and look destined to repeat the process next summer.
England are likely to qualify for next year's World Cup, but qualifying has rarely been their problem anyway. What's been their problem has been beating teams equal to or better than them at tournaments, and that doesn't look like changing any time soon.
A trip to Germany won't tell us anything much, but avoiding a heavy defeat will be a bonus to confidence ahead of an easy qualifier against Lithuania at the weekend, a game they'll almost certainly win.
Michael Keane, Jake Livermore and Nathan Redmondhave been called up to the squad and they'll be hoping to impress enough to force their way into the manager's plans for next summer, which will in turn offer them the opportunity to be the next England pariah after crushing disappointment.
Match Odds
As you would probably expect, England are big outsiders here at 5.40. To go into the lions' den and get a win in Germany as they did a year ago (that turned out well the following summer, didn't it?) would be a decent achievement were it not for the fact that Germany have a long-term plan which involves them peaking at tournaments and not worrying too much about friendly matches.
Were the Three Lions to overcome the 1.77 Germans it would probably be met with a "typical England" shrug these days rather than sending the flag of dreams higher up the flagpole for England fans, because, let's face it, that's the stage we're at now with this national side.
The Draw is sat at 4.00 and is probably worth a bet in the circumstances.
Over/Under 2.5 Goals
The last game played between these two was a five-goal thriller, and on five of the last six occasions these teams have faced each other there's been over 2.5 goals. Overs is currently trading at 1.87, with Unders available at a bigger2.08.
I've got a feeling this will be a low-scoring one, purely because England have a woeful lack of goals in their squad but are probably just about organised enough to make Germany work hard.
Half Time Score
Speaking of which, I like 0-0 in the Half Time Score market at 3.05. I can see it being cagey here, and despite what went on last year, my contention is that players at this key time of the season don't want to jeopardise their fitness - it's far enough out to not have a huge bearing on World Cup selection, but it's close enough to the end of the season to matter re: club football.
I'd take over 2/1 on that outcome all day long.
Recommended Bets
Back 0-0 in the Half Time Score market at 3.05
Back Under 2.5 Goals at 2.08
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