FanZoner Stuart Heaver thinks England have no chance of re-writing history against his adopted Germany.
Germany too classy for hapless England, says Herr Heaver
It gives me no pleasure to tell you that I predicted the dumping out of England from the World Cup by Germany in Round Two before the tournament had even started - and I am not changing my mind now.
Franz Beckenbauer is right to point out that England are stupid not to avoid Germany in this early stage of the competition, but it is written in the stars and you can't argue with the football gods.
My only change of mind is that England were so hopeless in their opening two games that I could not see Germany needing a penalty shoot-out to despatch the Ego Land failures back to the comfort of the Premier League.
Now I am not quite so sure.
On balance, I think Germany will win 1-0 within normal time in a scrappy and tense affair on Sunday afternoon and English hearts will be broken again. I also predict that Peter Crouch will be introduced on 86 minutes to replace an ineffective Rooney.
Composed
This will be followed by the exquisite agony of a nation watching its top footballers launching 60-yard aerial passes to big Peter and big Emile, like a Sunday morning pub team of boozed-up builders with a hangover from the night before.
As you may have guessed, I don't share the national jubilation after a 1-0 scrappy win against a nation of 2million people from the former Yugoslavia.
Germany's win over a strong Ghana side was far more composed and unlike England they play like a team, not 11 selfish individuals trying to protect their image rights.
Rooney ignoring an unmarked James Milner in the Slovenia game in order to try and get his own name on the scoresheet was typical England and typical Rooney. Selfish.
Germany may have lower-profile players but they have team spirit, patriotism, loyalty, determination and guts. Old-fashioned virtues but essential in team sport and completely alien to Rooney and most of the England camp.
England came second in the weakest group in the World Cup, having scored a total of two goals and their goalkeeper is their joint second top scorer. And the former captain tries to plot against his own manager on TV.
Eroded
Let's face it, this is the worst England squad we have ever seen in a Word Cup finals and one of the most exciting and youthful German teams since the days of Jurgen Klinsman and Rudi Voeller.
Miro "Hold Me" Klose will be back to lead the German offense, supported by Lucas "Stumpy" Podolski and the new Wunderkind, Mesut "Kermit" Ozil, who I think is destined to become a star of this World Cup.
Also watch out for Captain Philipp "Larry" Lahm taking advantage of Steven Gerrard's wanderings infield to cause Ashley Cole problems by doubling up with Thomas "Not Gerd" Muller.
You could only think England have more than a tiny outside chance against Germany if your brain cells have been completely eroded by World Cup fever and discounted supermarket lager.
I wish I was wrong but Germany have not failed to reach the quarter-finals since 1938 and it will take a team a lot classier than this England one to re-write history.
So I'm afraid it's Gute Nacht from England on Sunday evening or Gute Nacht from me... and I know who my money is on.
