If I can dream...

As always seems to be the case the scene is set. The legendary Franz Beckenbauer has been running his mouth like a WWE bad guy for the last week and The Sun newspaper has spilled out its usual waste heap of trashy propaganda after what was in all honesty a disappointing display by England in the group stage which has set up an anything but disappointing tie with the old enemy. However when all is said and done the only way to talk in football is on the pitch - and the only conversations that matter come 3pm this afternoon are those between Capello and his troops, Loew and his squadron, and the shrill cries between comrades in battle amidst the relentless noise of the vu-vu zela. Although the English have already displayed discontempt towards the local horns by singing a free-lance rendition of 'God Save the Queen' in every game so far - and the Germans have displayed their own unique support with the largest national flag seen in football. This is indeed a clash between two giant nations of the game with all the added controversy, hostility and backhanded respect that comes with the territory of two sides who have historically gained and lost everything through their battles with the other.

We can't talk about an Anglo-Deutsch contest without mentioning the war even though Basil Fawlty would implore us not to; and its a backs to the wall and all out offensive spirit that might just be the key to relive the success of the dambusters and the D-day landings. The only two significant victories scored against the Germans since the wars may teach us a couple of other necessary keys to success. A mean defensive spirit and a striker whose in the mood would take us a long way to state the obvious as we saw in Munich 2001 with the historic 5-1 dismantling of Oliver Kahn's defence. More to the point that age old match winner of international football as we experienced in 1966 wouldn't go a miss - a wee bit of bloody luck.

I'm not going to attempt to second guess tactics or selection front either manager and I'm certainly not arrogant enough to suggest ways in which to beat the Germans. The one suggestion I will tender is can we please do it in normal / extra time? It might just be one of those games where all form and thought goes flying out the window and is all decided on whether Rooney reaches that ball across goal or whether Terry makes that goal-saving block. I personally want us to attack, press and turn it into a high tempo war, show Mertesacker and Friedrich up for the donkeys they're so capable of being. Lets not kid ourselves that Germany can't open us up themselves. Mesut Ozil has already given English fans the pleasure of his destructive company by destroying our under 21 side last year in the final of the Euro U21's. However only one player of our U21 side has progressed to the national side, then captain James Milner, as opposed to the 6 who make up Germany's comparatively inexperienced side. Due to the loss of Michael Ballack the Germans have no survivors from the side that was shot apart in Munich 2001 - with our only remains being Ashley Cole, scorers Steven Gerrard and Emile Heskey.

Lets not tease ourselves with the parallels of previous successes and failures but focus on the now. Germany are good but they haven't set the world alight. England are good but they haven't set the world alight. Both sides have points to prove and both sides would love nothing more than to prove them. Whether its a war of attrition or an exchange of damaging raids; its England versus Germany; its South Africa 2010 and by my reckoning 50 years of hurt might have a ring to it, but so does Argentina in the Quarter Finals.