A win against Germany would be bittersweet for England

Jack Wilshere will be a key man for England against Germany

England football fans always have painful memories when the topic of the Three Lions’s famous rivalry with Germany is brought up. The rivalry was ignited after the second World War. The rivalry reached its peak in the immortal 1966 World Cup final when England trounced Germany 4-2 with controversial goals scored by both sides. The England fans went crazy when the fourth goal was scored. They triumphed over a major rival at the iconic Wembley Stadium and it was a moment that would be cherished forever.

However the tide would soon change in the years to come. England were beaten 3-2 in the quarter finals of the 1970 World Cup, shattering their hopes of a World Cup double. Following the 1970 World Cup both teams had their shares of ups and downs before meeting again in the mouth watering semi-final match of the 1990 World Cup where England lost 4-2 on penalties. Germany eventually went of to win the tournament under the leadership of German legend Franz Beckenbauer.

Both the teams met once again in the Euro 1996 semi-finals, which was hosted by England, and Germany once again bested the Three Lions 5-6 on penalties. The next major clash was in the Round of 16 match in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. England failed to keep a rampant Germany in check and the match ended 4-1 with Upson scoring the only goal for the Lions after Frank Lampard had his shot denied.

England are still smarting from their previous World Cup encounter with Germany and are determined to inflict defeat on their tormentors when they meet on Tuesday. The win will be a huge confidence booster for England, who are reeling from a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Chile. Phil Jones and Michael Carrick are both ruled out for the Tuesday encounter which is a huge blow for England as the Manchester United duo have both performed well for their clubs so far.

Danny Welbeck will also be absent due to a knee injury. On a more positive note, the England strikers Wayne Rooney and Daniel Sturridge have had a phenomenal season for their club so far and are sure to try their level best to get on the scoresheet against Germany. The midfield looks bright with Jack Wilshere, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard at the helm and the trio are sure to give the Germans problems. The defenders will be kept on their toes in the face of the German attack but they have been strong in the World Cup qualifiers, which is a huge relief for Roy Hodgson. Joe Hart has a big point to prove and cannot afford any blunders in this high profile clash.

The result of this match will tell us what we can expect from the Three Lions in Brazil. Neither side will treat this match as just another friendly, with just about 6 months to go for the World Cup. England have a slight advantage as the match is being played in their own backyard. Germany on the other hand have plenty of attack minded players which is something to look forward too.

Which of these Titans will emerge victorious? Not even the late Paul the Octopus has the answer to this one.