<p>The Matildas kick off their 2024 Olympic campaign against Germany in the early hours of Friday morning (Australian time) at Paris’ Stade de Marseille.</p> <p>There’s no sugar coating it, our girls are not only massive underdogs to win this clash, but also to advance from their group.</p> <p>There’s always one every tournament and unfortunately for the Tillies, Group B at the 2024 Olympics is the infamous “group of death.”</p> <p>After facing heavyweight Germany, they have to face Zambia, who are led by NWSL super striker Barbra Banda, before then squaring off against the most successful nation in Women’s football history – the USA.</p> <p>We’ve heard it all before however, and if there is one part Australia plays to perfection it’s that of the irreverent underdog.</p> <p>Before we get lost looking too far down the road to gold, let’s dive into the Tillies opening match against Germany.</p> <p>For the latest news, lineups, odds, predictions, and betting tips for Australia’s Olympics opener, check out&nbsp; our Matildas vs Germany Preview below.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Matildas Predicted Lineup</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>One of the main questions on everyone’s lips is: who will start for Australia against Germany? Well, let’s take a look at how the Matildas might line up for their opening game at the 2024 Olympics.</p> <p>As previously mentioned in our <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/olympics/betting-tips/matildas-preview-2024">Matildas Olympics Preview</a> it is a well-known and devastating fact, that superstar Sam Kerr will not be taking part in the festivities in Paris after rupturing her ACL.</p> <p>This leaves an opening leading the line for the Green and Gold, but who will fill it? In our eyes there are two main options: Caitlin Foord and Michelle Heyman.</p> <p>There is also the option to deploy Mary Fowler in a more central role, but it seems apparent that she has more of an impact cutting in from wide.</p> <p>We can see head coach Tony Gustavsson starting with Heyman, to give his side a target in the six-yard box and switching to the more mobile Foord if things begin to go south.</p> <p>The rest of Australia’s side should largely resemble the one that turned out at the World Cup last year.</p> <p><strong>Australia predicted line up: </strong><em>Mackenzie Arnold (GK), Ellie Carpenter (vc), Alanna Kennedy, Clare Hunt, Steph Catley (c), Hayley Raso, Katrina Gorry, Emily van Egmond (vc), Kyra Cooney-Cross, Mary Fowler, Michelle Heyman.</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Matildas vs Germany Match Preview</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>At the time of writing Australia are paying a whopping 5.00* to get the best of Germany in this one.</p> <p>That seems a little steep for a side bristling with top talent from some of the biggest sides in the world such as Hayley Raso, Ellie Carpenter and Mary Fowler to name a few.</p> <p>Sam Kerr’s omission has no doubt influenced the odds dramatically, as has recent history against the Germans.</p> <p>Last time these two sides faced was in a 2021 friendly and things did not go well for Australia. Germany flexed their attacking muscle to run out 5-2 winners in a dominant display.</p> <p>The Aussies aren’t the only ones missing a key player, with Germany’s best midfielder Lena Oberdorf also out injured.</p> <p>It’s hard to get a line on Germany, as they tend to oscillate between the sublime and the ridiculous. They didn’t even qualify for the last Olympics, and they also succumbed to an early exit at the most recent Women’s World Cup.</p> <p>However, the last time they did qualify for the Olympics, which was in 2016, they went home with the gold. So read into that what you will.</p> <p>All in all, Germany have too many attacking weapons and experience at their disposal and while the Matildas certainly have an impressive artillery of their own, we think that without Kerr, they will most likely be out-gunned here.</p> <p><strong>Prediction: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/soccer/olympics-2024/womens-olympics/germany-w-v-australia-w--8395792">3-1 Germany.</a></p> <p><em>Odds are subject to change*</em></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Matildas vs Germany Betting Tips &amp; Predictions</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Head-to-Head (H2H)</h3> <p>All things considered; it’s not looking too good for the Matildas in the H2H market. Germany are overwhelming favourites and rightly so.</p> <p>Backing an Aussie upset would be a bold play here and it’s far more pragmatic to side with Germany. However, for those feeling mighty patriotic and don’t want to bet against the Green and Gold, the Tillies are certainly capable of forcing a gutsy draw here.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/soccer/olympics-2024/womens-olympics/germany-w-v-australia-w--8395792">Germany.</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>First Goal</h3> <p>Germany possess a number of lethal attacking threats who could be first to break the deadlock in this one. Look particularly to the likes of Klara Buhl and Alexandra Popp, the latter who is one of the most lethal strikers in the women’s game.</p> <p>If you fancy the Aussies to be the ones to break the deadlock first, then young superstar Mary Fowler or wily veteran Michelle Heyman appear the most appealing options.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/soccer/olympics-2024/womens-olympics/germany-w-v-australia-w--8395792">Alexandra Popp.</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Over/Under</h3> <p>If there’s one thing both of these sides are known for, it’s attacking. With the safety net of two matches each still to come, we expect both nations to explode out of the gates in this Group B opener.</p> <p>The over/under sits at 2.5 goals and we believe there will be more than enough attacking quality on the pitch to eclipse that threshold.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/soccer/olympics-2024/womens-olympics/germany-w-v-australia-w--8395792">Over 2.5 goals.</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Matildas vs Germany Match Details</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Date: </strong>Friday, July 26, 2024.</p> <p><strong>Location:</strong> Stade de Marseille.</p> <p><strong>Kick-off: </strong>3:00am AEST.</p> <p><strong>Where to watch: </strong>Nine Network or Stan Sport.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Sportsbet is not a sponsor of, and does not have any association with, the Australian Olympic Committee, the Olympic Games or the Australian Olympic Team and is not a sponsor of the Olympic Games.</em></p>