Maybe it was inevitable. An accident waiting to happen. A collision course they couldnt avoid.
Well, whatever it was, theres no getting away from it - Germany v England, Sunday 3pm
Everyone knows the history between the 2 nations both on and off the playing field, so i wont bore you with tired old cliches, which you will see spread all over the media, thats something i will go into in a bit. Yes, the fixture does bring up stirring memories, but thats all they are now for these 2 current squads. Sure the past will be slightly on thier minds - dare i say more so the English than the Germans, because we still have to live with more often than not defeats. If you want to go back than look no further than the last time we met, a 2-1 win for us in Berlin.
The media have gone way over the top in my opinion, in thier quest to ensure we will win on penalties. OK thats a good thing because we dont want another heartbreaking loss on what is the ultimate test of a professional footballer can hit the target from 12 yards ( i know the pressure......) or not. We should instead be pushing and encouraging our Lions to win the game in 90 minutes which we are very capable of. Doesnt the whole "win on penalties" idea just a bit negative, and if it sinks into the players mentality over the next day it could be a case of "dont worry, weve practised for it, we'll be ok". Win the game in normal time and move on.
Its easy to say of course, and some have said already that the Germans are there for the taking, young, inexperienced, but the flip side of that is they will be hungry, and maybe they dont want to go home just yet either. It would laso be easy to highlight certian plyers in thier team to stop, but at this stage anything could happen at any time from anyone, so the team should be judged as a unit. They are quick going forward and have looked a threat, with lots of support from midfield, so its key we win that battle. It will be a hrd fought, keenly contested area of the pitch that whoever wins could well win through.
So what of our side, can we stay with the same players and go with what we know, now that we seem to have relaxed and found a winning formula? Why not,. The available agian King and Carragher, although very sure abd steady, should take a back seat again to Upson who had a very assured game next to Terry at the centre. The midfield looked tight, although still not 100% about Gerrard on the left, especially as i said before, its the midfield battle we need to lock down.
I honestly believe that we will have enough to get through this game in normal time, it may not be easy and we will be pushed all the way, but look forward to a quarter-final against potentially another old foe and more hype and memories dragged up......
Until next time, enjoy Korea edging out Uruguay, and Ghana losing on penalties to the USA
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