After another underwhelming game the English national team will host fierce rivals Germany at the iconic Wembley Stadium later tonight.
Both teams lost their last games and find themselves 3rd (England) and 4th (England) in their group.
Gareth Southgate has more pressure on his hands because his England team is yet to win a single game in a group with Hungary. After his most recent loss against Italy last weekend, he alluded to the fact that he hates losing games but maintained that he was not under pressure ahead of the World Cup later this year. Even as England’s first World Cup game against Iran draws close, most England supporters are beginning to feel uneasy as they feel that the Three Lions are lacking in confidence and proper managerial prowess. However, tonight match-up against the Germans will show if Southgate can weather the storm with a calm head.
For the Germans, any game played against the English is a time to rekindle the rivalry of European and world football. In the last UEFA Euros competition, the Germans will feel they played better but England won and today will feel like a grudge-match when they face each other tonight in Wembley. In the last nine meetings, England has won three matches, Germany has won four, while two have ended in draws.
While both national teams are seemingly low on confidence, tonight match-up is arguably a derby where form might not likely decide the winner. It is however important for Gareth Southgate to set up his team by playing to his players’ strengths.
The Germans will definitely come with a game plan of attacking by exploiting those spaces that open up with their short passes. The wingers and wingbacks of the Germans will be ready to run ragged the backline of England.
For Gareth Southgate, he knows tonight might be a decider if he is to be on the plane with the Three Lions in Qatar later in the year and Hans Flick will want to end this round of games on a high thus making a perfect encounter for the neutrals.
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