England V Germany: Fans prepare to face the old enemy again

Meetings between the teams have often ended in tears for England, quite literally for Paul Gascoigne in Italy in 1990

• Jo McGuigan
• The Guardian, Thursday 24 June 2010

Paul Gascoigne, left, and Chris Waddle ? the north-east's finest - salute the England fans after the heartache of World Cup defeat by the Germans in 1990. Photograph: Popperfoto

England fans were last night relishing a rematch with the team they (and some sections of the media) love to hate.

Since England's victory over West Germany in the World Cup final of 1966 became etched in the national psyche, meetings between the teams have often ended in tears for England, quite literally for Paul Gascoigne in Italy in 1990.

Statistically, though, the result at the Free State stadium in Bloemfontein on Sunday could be too close to call. The teams have played 27 matches, with England winning 12, Germany winning 10 (plus another two on penalties) and there have been three draws.

Fans will want to avoid a repeat of the 1990 semi-final in Turin, which Germany won 4-3 on penalties in a match that ended without a dry eye in the house as Gascoigne received a yellow card and realised he would not appear in the final (a worry that proved rather academic in the end).

Penalty misses from tough nuts Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle led to a 4-3 win for the Germans, who went on to defeat Argentina in the final.

More disappointment followed in the 1996 European championships semi-final, with Germany winning on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Wembley. This time, defender Gareth Southgate became the fall guy in the shootout. Once again, Germany went on to win in the final.

A 1-0 defeat at home proved to be Kevin Keegan's last game in charge of the national side, before redemption came at the hands of England's "other" foreign manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson.

What fans will be dreaming of is a repeat of England's match against Germany in the World Cup qualifier of 2001 in Munich. Eriksson led his charges to an emphatic 5-1 victory, with a Michael Owen hat-trick leaving the previously confident hosts in shock.

Whether through apathy or expense, few matches at the World Cup have been sell-outs, but there are sure to be fans thinking of a last-minute dash to take in the action in South Africa.

Last night online agencies were selling tickets for the match at prices from £160 to £375. Economy class tickets to Bloemfontein, heading out on Saturday, were quoted at £500 each way on the British Airways website.