Ten Things England Will Need To Do To Beat Germany

On Sunday afternoon, we'll forget.

We'll forget there even was a performance against Algeria, and we'll try and concentrate on the fact that our defensive record over three games was pretty great and that we seem to have someone who can cross in James Milner.

We'll also scream, cry, shout, and yell at our TV screens, and, if things go wrong, talk about anti-English bias and our hatred for all things German (while probably having a Becks Vier in the pub).

But England can beat Germany. There's no question about it. But to do that, this is the recipe that England needs to stick to progress to the quarter-finals.

1) Keep faith in Rooney

While Wayne Rooney once again failed to score in a World Cup match, he looked a changed player to the angry brat we saw after the Algeria game. He was too much for the Slovenian defenders, and his chemistry with Jermain Defoe looks a step above the one he allegedly had with Emile Heskey.

2) And if Rooney's injured before Sunday's game....

Start Peter Crouch. It's not as though Defoe and Crouch haven't played together in the last few seasons, is it? Just not, please Fabio, Heskey.

3) Get the ball out to Milner—and let him take the corners and free kicks out wide

Good things happened against Slovenia when the ball went out to James Milner, who evoked memories of David Beckham with some of the crosses he whipped in. He should take free-kicks out wide too, which will feed the heads of John Terry and Matthew Upson. Germany looked troubled when the crosses came in in all three of their group games, and this could be an area of weakness on Sunday.

4) Keep out of trouble!

We know it's hard to say, but if it's anything Germany's an expert in, it's diving. Hell, they practically coined the dark art. We can be certain that the Germans will try to do their 'spawn of the devil' act against England, as they have done throughout their history. We can only hope that the referee isn't too card happy, or we've got problems. Also, we must learn to keep our mouths shut (and keep Rooney away from the referee). This isn't an easy German team to face—and won't be any easier with 10 men.

5) Pass the ball

For parts of the USA game and for most of the Slovenia game, England played well with the ball on the floor. The all-too-eager ball pumped forward (i.e. most of England's possession in the Algeria game) isn't going to work, and will just play into the Germans' hands.

6) Keep an eye on Ozil

Germany's best player so far has been Mehmut Ozil, and his goal against Ghana shows what happens if you back off a player too much. Like most of the Germans striking from distance, they've played with the Jubilani for longer (it was in the Bundesliga in January), and will know what it can do. England needs to close him down as quickly as possible.

7) Stop Schweinsteiger

Bastian Schweinsteiger is a player who will cause you non-stop trouble, either through the middle or out on the wing. Tricky and not afraid to either shoot or fall over if touched, he's going to be a handful for Terry, Upson, Johnson and Cole. Having said that, there's always the possibility that a pulled hamstring might keep him out. The neutrals will be sad. England fans will call that a bonus.

8) Take the chances

This sounds stupid and obvious, but it's been a hallmark of the English team in the last three games. In the US and Slovenia games, England could have won each game by four or five goals, but their inability to close a game down came back—or nearly came back—to bite them in the behind. If a chance is there, Wayne or Jermain, please don't scuff it—make the goalkeeper work. And let's hope the Germany keeper doesn't keep up the form that keepers have had against the English team this year—and play out of his skin.

9) Practice penalties

Apparently, it's already being done. Let's hope David James & Co are saving them, too!

10) Pray for a bit of luck

'Nuff said.