England v Germany - a classic pairing

I'm always happy to try to make a prediction but I really can't call the England v Germany second round match. It may well revolve around a mistake or a missed chance. I must be the only person who doesn't think it will go to a penalty shoot-out. 120 minutes will produce a winner and we will all be wise in hindsight. It's a classic pairing although England haven't got the better of Germany in the World Cup finals since that great day in 1966. Indeed, Germany have progressed farther in all of the World Cup finals tournaments since then. Fabio Capello is suddenly accepted again as a very good coach since Engand's 1-0 win over Slovenia. England weren't as good as the hype but there was certainly an improvement. There needed to be. Capello says he knows his team and hinted the only position he had to consider was the central defensive spot between Matthew Upson and Ledley King. It's an interesting choice because in the past, one of England's weaknesses in my book is not to change a winning team. I think you should pick horses for courses. Upson did play well after a shaky start but with Terry and Upson there is a lack of pace and I think that King and Terry could handle Klose much better. It could be a vital factor. There is a vulnerabilty about the first choice left-back Holger Badstuber. He missed the last match but if, as expected, he returns, England have to put speed up against him. If all that happens there is a real chance in that position for England. It's all ifs and buts. That's what makes it all so tense, exciting and appealing. The whole nation, whichever one it is, will particularly enjoy victory. It won't matter at the time that Argentina will be the probable quarter-final opponents.