Headlining the crunch Euro 2020 Round of 16 fixtures is England vs Germany at Wembley on Tuesday night.
The big game feel is surely unmissable in this knockout game as both nations would be seeking a catalyst to spur them all the way.
For England, there is no greater football rival than Germany.
Indeed, getting one over on Germany remains one of the sweetest victories in football for England fans and players. The Three Lions have experienced the highest of highs and also suffered plenty of heartache at the hands of the Germans.
Poignantly, England have only enjoyed victory against Germany thrice in 11 competitive meetings.
They share a rivalry that dates back to the first-ever competitive meeting in the first World Cup Final in 1966, in which England won 4-2 in extra time at Wembley. Right up to Frank Lampard’s disallowed goal in the 4-1 defeat at the 2010 world cup which birthed the approval of goal-line technology in football.
Equally significant were England’s famous penalty defeats to their arch-rivals in the semi-finals of 1990 World Cup and Euro 1996.
England manager Gareth Southgate’s penalty miss at Euro 96 is closer to home in the current camp. England won only their second of eight penalty shootouts against Colombia at the 2018 World Cup whereas Germany are specialists having lost only once in their seven shootouts in history.
Sven-Goran Eriksson’s ‘Golden Generation’ managed to beat Germany at Euro 2000 before inflicting a devastating 5-1 defeat in Munich in the 2002 World Cup qualification campaign.
A new chapter or more of the same?
Modern-day history is set to be added to the chapters of this memorable fixture, but the big question remains if Southgate can exorcise the demons of his darkest moment 25 years ago? The psychological boost could crucially push England all the way, given their clear route to the final.
Needless to say, this fixture has historically provoked goal-fests and another in 2021 would please fans and neutrals.
Although England have the better squad and are in a better moment in international football, Germany have the winning pedigree and history behind them.
Both teams have yet to hit their stride at Euro 2020; England’s two wins coming from slim 1-0 victories while Germany’s sole win was their own goal fest on matchday 2 against Portugal
The Germans looked underwhelming but there is plenty of quality that can be harnessed in that squad.
Tactical battle
Harry Maguire’s timely return from ankle damage as he underwent 90 minutes in the final group game against the Czech Republic, prompts the selection dilemma of reverting to the back-three which worked at the World Cup.
Die Mannschaft have settled for a dynamic 3-4-3 throughout Euro 2020, thus England will be wary of their considerable threat from wing-backs Robin Gosens and Joshua Kimmich.
Matching the supremely experienced Germans will negate being outnumbered in the defensive third as well as unshackle England’s wide threat which has undermined their attacking play at the tournament.
Pertinently, all goals conceded by the Germans so far have come from crosses into the box or setpieces, an area in which England excelled in that run to the 2018 World Cup semifinal.
Joachim Löw is confident of an improved performance against their rivals but remains wary of the task ahead.
“They are playing at home, they want to attack, it’s going to be an open match, more open than it was tonight (against Hungary). We need to improve on things, we are aware of that, and need to take care and be careful, especially at set-pieces.
“We cannot repeat the same mistakes again. We need to do things better here, but ahead of the match against England, we’re looking forward to it.
For the most part, there is the incentive of the winner of this tie avoiding the other tournament favourites, save for the resurgent Netherlands. Therefore the winner at Wembley is poised to reach the semifinal at least.
Will football finally be coming home or es kommt nach hause?
