In less than three hours the latest installment of the football/history crossover that is England's rivalry with Germany will get under way.
Simon Barnes in the Times wrote an excellent article this week about the impossibility of splitting certain sporting rivalries with their wider context, and surely England v Germany is the epitome of this. Even people with no interest in football will take a break from the sunshine to watch this game today (Hi Gina). It just always feels so massive, so real, so visceral - I love Germany as a place to visit, German people, Bratwurst - but there is just so much there that makes me desperate for us to beat their football team.
If the German players were sent out today in a different kit, and played under a name that held no significance to England, it is reasonable to believe that an improved England side would be able to dispatch with their opponents in relatively comfortable fashion. Perhaps if they could be given the Men In Black memory loss treatment just prior to kick-off, England could step out there with confidence in their own abilities and a disregard for the opposition.
But this is Germany. Southgate, 96. Hamann at Wembley. Waddle. Gazza.
The Germans always perform at major tournaments, and Ozil showed in clear terms what he is capable of against the Ghanaians. They shone in despatching Australia 4-0 in their opening game. There is a chance it could go to penalties, at which point England minds will flood with memories of dissapointment, whereas the only German with any worries will be Lukas Podolski after a recent miss against Serbia.
England, despite all of this, still should have enough to get past this German side, and I'll stick my neck on the line and say they will. The win over Slovenia showed signs of clear improvement, and Rooney has been given another chance to make his mark on this tournament which he will be desperate to take. Defensively they have been solid - credit in no small part to a redemption-seeking John Terry - and the fluidity of play shown throughout the qualifiers was creeping into their game last Wednesday. They just need to treat this game as any other.
Up next, Argentina - at least there isn't any history or rivalry there...
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