Will Gary Lineker's comment be true again?
So it's the Germans. Again. Games against them always throw up the iconic images from the past: 1966 and all that; Gazza's tears in 90; Pizza Hut adverts in 96 (Southgate, Waddle and Pearce - hang your heads in shame); Owen's hat-trick; penalties...
What will be the iconic image after tomorrow? David James scoring a penalty kick? It would be lovely to see him do that and then mimic that arrogant strut Andy Moller did at Wembley in Euro 96.
The Germans seem quite confident ahead of tomorrow. . That would not have been too misplaced after England's first two games. But then North Korea might have fancied facing us after the Algeria game. Their papers have been full of headlines saying things like 'Bring On England' and the like.
Be careful what you wish for. England are a different proposition now after the win over Slovenia. It wasn't an amazing performance last time out. They were still nervous for the first twenty minutes. But Jermain Defoe's goal from James Milner's terrific cross seemed to lift the pressure off them somehwat. They should have won by more in the end. The tempo and the pressing were better, and these will be key against Jogi Loew's team.
This is not a vintage Germany either. It's an exciting, young team but can they handle the pressure of expectancy? England, on the other hand, have much experience and also the confidence of a win in Germany against their opponents not so long ago.
Gary Lineker famously said once that football is a simple sport: it's eleven against eleven for 90 minutes and the Germans win on penalties. Let's hope not tomorrow.
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