JOHANNESBURG When England square up against old foe, Germany, in a World Cup second round, knock-out match at Mangaungs Free State Stadium this afternoon, it will not be just a ticket to the next stage of the competition uppermost in their collective mind. (Pictured: Jermain Defoe (No 19) scores against H
The Three Lions may never publicly admit it, but they will no doubt be also out to correct a record that to all intends purposes places several rungs below their illustrious opponents.
History and statistics in football more so in cup games do not matter much. But they do if the teams involved are England and Germany.
And here is what the statistics say: since 1966, Germany have been in 11 major tournament finals, emerging winners five times. England have been in two major semi-finals and lost on both occasions.
1966
The Three Lions have only won the World Cup once as hosts in 1966 and that triumph ironically coming against the Germans (West German), whom they beat 4-2 after extra time. They are yet to reach a top three finish since then and naturally that should make them the hungrier of the two sides going into todays epic clash.
On the other hand, the Germans have enjoyed more success than their adversaries, after they were crowned world champions on three occasions 1954, 1970 and 1990.
On the occasions that they have failed to win the trophy, the Germans have been runners-up on four occasions 1966, 1982, 1986 and 2002, while finishing third three times in 1934, 1970 and 2006.
The two teams go into todays encounter after putting contrasting shows in their group matches, England ending second in Group C, where they drew 1-1 with eventual group winners USA in their first match and 0-0 with Algeria in their second game of this World Cup.
They then avoided a first round drop by beating Slovenia 1-0 in their final match at the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium last Wednesday evening.
German, on the other hand, thrashed Australia 4-0 in their first match, before a 0-0 stalemate with Serbia and a 1-0 win over Ghana sealed their place atop Group D.
Special
Against that background, many pundits consider Germany to be favourites going into todays encounter, but definitely not Jermaine Defoe, whose solitary strike against Slovenia sent England through on Wednesday.
The Tottenham Hotspur striker told the media last week that he and his teammates had no fear about facing Joachim Low’s charges today.
“When you’re playing well and you feel confident, you just look forward to playing whoever you meet on the way and that is what we are feeling as the English team right now,” said Defoe. “Germany are a great footballing nation that is fantastic in major tournaments, but we are also a great side and we are looking forward to the game.”
Like all England players have been so eager to tell anyone who cared to listen, Defoe emphasized that there had been no problem or split in Three Lions camp as the media had implied after former captain and influential defender John Terry appeared to question manager Fabio Capello’s methods and tactics.
“I personally don’t think there’s been any problems to be honest. Obviously, it’s always difficult when you’re not winning games and at times players are a little bit low, but that’s only normal,” he said.
While former Germany captain Franz Beckenbauer appeared to dismiss England as a real threat, describing them as tired and burnt out, Low, the Germany coach, seem more cautious.
Low, who sounded not too carried away by his charges impressive route to the second round, instead praised Englands special qualities and said his telling the media that his charges will have to raise their game today if they are entertaining any hopes of winning.
“England has always been something extra special . we need to raise our game,” Low was quoted as saying.
German midfielder Mesut Oezil, scorer of their goal against Ghana in their last group game, concurred with his coach that England are far stronger the sides the Germans have played so far.
Rooney
But Oezil was confident of Germanys abilities. “It will be a very tough game against England because they are stronger than Ghana, said the 21-year-old Werder Bremen midfielder. But if we put our all into that game, I am positive that we will be able to win and proceed further.”
England fans will be hoping for Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney to rediscover the explosive form that has made him one of the most feared forwards in the Barclays Premiership, where he had an average of one goal per game last season.
Rooney has not yet scored in the World Cup, despite coming close on many occasions and had to be substituted during last Wednesdays do-or-die match against Slovenia.
The goalkeeping department, where both Robert Green and David James have been unreliable of late, will also be expected to rise to the occasion and complement the defence that is always ably marshalled by Terry.
Post published in: Football