Germany 4-1 England

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Fabio Capello does not need a team talk for this last 16 clash - German legend Franz Beckenbauer has already provided it, twice!

If England required any firing up for an encounter with the old enemy - which is doubtful - Germany's former World Cup-winning captain and coach did the trick, first by labelling the Three Lions's style as "kick and rush" before their victory over Slovenia and then accusing them of stupidity by allowing the USA to claim top spot in Group C.

Beckenbauer has since apologised, but he might be made to eat his words, with England finally rediscovering their winning touch just in time for the Group C decider against Slovenia.

Three Lions captain Steven Gerrard warned: "If we play like we did then and keep trying to improve and deliver what the manager is asking, we will be difficult to beat, because we've got the quality to win football matches."

That will be the key to Sunday's match. If England play like they did in the goalless bore against Algeria, the exciting Germany side will cruise to victory.

"When it comes to tournaments, they always play well," said striker Jermain Defoe, who scored the winner against Slovenia. "They're looking bright and sharp, and some have got a point to prove, coming from the Under-21s."

However, Germany coach Joachim Loew has major concerns over the fitness of midfield lynchpin Bastian Schweinsteiger (hamstring) and defender Jerome Boateng (calf).

"We can say there is a major question mark over both players," said Loew. "We need players who can give their all in order to survive - 90 per cent is not sufficient. They have to be fully match fit."

Without Schweinsteiger the young German side may struggle to break down the experienced England outfit in their first encounter at the finals since the reunification of Germany, although Loew is able to welcome back veteran striker Miroslav Klose for the injured Cacau after suspension.

Loew has no worries that his squad will be overawed by the occasion, though, saying: "You won't find fear in anyone's eyes, neither on the English or German side. No matter how important matches have been in the past, Germany have never approached these games with fear.

"Both teams will act with a great deal of courage, commitment and I think that, while we have a young team, we will be able to hold our own."

It could of course all come down to penalties - as it did when West Germany knocked out England in 1990 and when Germany staged an action replay at Euro 96.

However, with Capello in charge, England are much better prepared this time, having practised spot-kicks daily since their pre-tournament training camp in Austria.

Germany 4-1 England

Germany march into the quarter finals with a 4-1 thrashing of England - although there will be a debate about goal-line technology

Germany may have inflicted a heavy defeat on England but Fabio Capello's men were left to reflect on a controversial refereeing decision when a Frank Lampard shot crossed the goalline.

England's defence looked shaky in Bloemfontein, with Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski scoring before Matthew Upson pulled one back with a header.

Then came Lampard's volley, which went off the crossbar and over the line, only for Uruguay official Jorge Larrionda to wave play on.

The second half at Free State Stadium saw Thomas Mueller net twice as Germany sent England home early from South Africa 2010 and booked a place in the quarter-finals.

Bastian Schweinsteiger was passed fit before the game after a thigh injury and he set up the first chance in this thrilling tie.

His ball over the top broke the offside trap and it needed goalkeeper David James to save well with his legs at the near post when Mesut Ozil got his finish away.

Germany legend Franz Beckenbauer has branded England a "kick-and-rush" team earlier in the tournament but the 20th-minute opener from Germany was pure route-one football.

John Terry and Upson clearly were not expecting Manuel Neuer's goal-kick to go so far, with the ball flying over the centre-back pairing. Klose held off Upson before poking his finish past James.

Only James prevented it from Germany putting the game out of England's reach earlier. He saved from Klose after Sami Khedira's flick and Mueller's pass split the back line again.

But Germany were not made to wait long for their second goal. Klose flicked to Muller and he spotted Podolski free to his left, who defied a tight angle to power his finish through James' legs.

It was chaos in the England penalty area, Klose wriggled through feeble challenges from Upson and Gareth Barry and was rescued by another James save.

It needed something to kick-start England and Upson provided it by heading home from Steven Gerrard's cross.

Then came Lampard's "goal", a delightful volley that came off the bar and clearly crossed the line. Even Capello saw it and started celebrating in the dug-out.

Lampard hit the bar again just after the break with a belting 40-yard free-kick as Capello's men looked to take their anger out on Germany.

But England were made to suffer their worst defeat at the finals of the tournament when Mueller fired home twice on the counter-attack.

Germany (4-5-1): Neuer; Boateng, Friedrich, Mertesacker, Lahm; Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Ozil (Kiessling 83), Muller (Trochowski 72), Podolski; Klose (Gomez 72).
Subs (not used): Jansen, Aogo, Tasci, Wiese, Badstuber, Kroos, Marin, Butt.

England (4-4-2): James; Johnson (Wright-Phillips 87), Upson, Terry, A Cole; Milner (J Cole 64), Lampard, Barry, Gerrard; Defoe (Heskey 71), Rooney.
Subs (not used): Green, Hart, Carragher, Warnock, Dawson, King, Lennon, Carrick, Crouch.
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