You don't get many bigger games in football than Germany v England and it is a game that means so much to so many and I'm one of those that don't think this game will go to penalties and I'm convinced it will be won before they are needed.

But that could very well be because I do not want to see penalties as I don't think they are really that fair, even though I can't come up with a better solution for finding a winner.

Match Details

• Venue: Bloemfontein
• Date: Sunday, 27 June 2010
• Kick-off: 4.00pm

Germany

Germany have one of the youngest squads at the World Cup but they could change the twenty-three players and give them a month and they would come out and play the exact same way the Germans always play.

The Germans are organised and they do things a set way and they have done for a long time. They base a lot of what they do on hard work and organisation and having a player or two that can change a game. They have all those attributes this year and they've had them for a very long time.

My point is, England shouldn't be surprised at how Germany play and how they set themselves up - they should know exactly what it is they are supposed to do to beat them and because of that hard work and organisation, it is never easy beating Germany.

England

Knowing what they should know, England have to worry about those players that can change games and stay close to them, but they also have to focus on winning the game playing their way.

England must, if they are to win this game, attack Germany and play their game - it is the only way they will win this game and it is exactly what we expect them to do.

Opposition View

England coach, Fabio Capello
It is a very important game, I think one of the more important, because we want to go forward and play in the next game. The pressure is normal when you play the World Cup and the players understand that as well.

German midfielder, Michael Ballack
The English have huge respect for Germany. There is no other team in the World Cup they fear more. In addition they also have strong concerns of a possible penalty shoot-out against us.

Prediction

We clearly want England to win this game but it is the one game for this World Cup where we are not going to make a prediction.

There is a lot of talk surrounding Rooney and that price above on him scoring is very good and our view is, if he doesn't score soon, he has to be dropped and other players need to be given a chance to show that they can play and score. Defoe had a chance - why not Crouch too?

So, we are not predicting. We want England to win and we believe it is possible, but we will just have to wait and see. The winner will play the winner of the Argentina and Mexico match kicking off at 8.30pm.