The Three Lions have a habit of playing the Germans in major tournaments, having faced off in the 1990 World Cup, Euro 96 and Euro 2000.

The England v Germany game is about to start. Paddypower are also live streaming the audio from the game.

England are 17/10 (Paddy Power) to record a historic win at the Free State Stadium and show that they mean business in the 2010 World Cup. Although people have been getting excited about the win over Slovenia, Capello’s team will have to improve if they are to get the better of a team who beat Australia and Ghana during the group stages.

It might not sound pretty to English supporters, but Germany could be the value bet at 15/8 (totesport) to win this game in ninety minutes. Joachim Low’s team have played an entertaining brand of football thus far and have Miroslav Klose returning from suspension for this crunch match. The Bayern Munich striker is 7/1 (Victor Chandler) to open the scoring in Bloemfontein and leave England with a mountain to climb.

A big concern for England is the lack of goals that have been scored by Wayne Rooney. While he was starved of chances against the USA, his touch was disappointing against Algeria and he really should have converted a one-on-one with the Slovenian keeper on Wednesday. It’s vital that the Manchester United man produces a great game and he’s 6/1 (Victor Chandler) to score his first World Cup goal in the perfect setting.

People are already talking about the possibility of this match going to extra-time and penalties, something that England will want to avoid due to their failure with spot kicks in the 2006 World Cup against Portugal, not to mention those exits in 1990 and 1996 at the hands of the Germans. Even so, the bookies offer odds of 10/1 (Sporting Bet) that it’s Germany who go through on spot kicks and 10/1 (totesport) that the Three Lions manage a rare victory on penalties.

Such an outcome would mean the game would be drawn in normal time, something’s that on offer at 9/4 (Sky Bet), although England did look a lot better against Slovenia and will hope to carry some momentum into that game. Jermain Defoe should cause a few problems for a defence that’s not exactly watertight and the Tottenham striker is 8/1 (bet365) to set the team on their way with the first goal.