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England and Germany gear up for a historic clash in the Euro 2020

The stage is set for a titanic showdown between England and Germany in the round of 16 of the Euro 2020. The two traditional European powerhouses will face off at the historic Wembley Stadium in a match that promises to be a classic encounter. Both teams have a rich footballing history and intense rivalries with each other, making this fixture one of the most eagerly anticipated matches of the tournament.

The road to the knockout rounds

England and Germany have had contrasting journeys to the round of 16. England topped their group with two wins and a draw, scoring two goals and conceding none. Gareth Southgate's side were defensively solid and efficient in attack, but the question remains whether they have the firepower to challenge elite teams.

Germany, on the other hand, had a shaky start to the tournament, drawing their opening game against France and narrowly defeating Portugal, before suffering a humiliating 2-0 defeat to Hungary in their final group game. But the four-time World Cup champions have a knack of raising their game on the biggest stages, and they will be hoping to do just that against England.

The key players

Both England and Germany have a host of world-class players in their squads. England boast attacking prowess with the likes of Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, and Mason Mount, while their defensive line is anchored by the likes of John Stones and Harry Maguire. Germany also possess formidable attackers in the form of Thomas Muller, Kai Havertz, and Serge Gnabry, while their backline includes the likes of Mats Hummels and Antonio Rudiger.

The midfield battle will also be crucial, with the likes of Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips for England, and Joshua Kimmich and Toni Kroos for Germany, expected to control the tempo of the game. However, much will depend on the performance of the respective goalkeepers, with Jordan Pickford of England and Manuel Neuer of Germany both capable of making match-winning saves.

The history of England vs Germany

The rivalry between England and Germany dates back to the 1966 World Cup final, where England famously lifted the trophy after a controversial 4-2 win. Since then, the two nations have faced each other in numerous high-profile matches, including the Euro 96 semi-final, which saw Germany emerge victorious on penalties.

More recently, the two teams faced off in the World Cup 2010, where Germany inflicted a humiliating 4-1 defeat on England in the round of 16. However, England got their revenge in the Euro 2020 qualifiers, defeating Germany 2-0 in the final qualification game.

What to expect

The England vs Germany clash promises to be a closely fought encounter, with both teams evenly matched on paper. The outcome of the game could be determined by small margins, such as a moment of individual brilliance or a lapse in concentration by the opposition.

However, one thing is for certain, the atmosphere inside Wembley Stadium will be electric, and fans from both sides will be hoping to witness a moment of magic from their respective teams. Whether it's England finally overcoming their historical demons, or Germany proving their worth on the big stage once again, the match is set to be a memorable one for both sets of supporters.