UNTIL Franz Beckenbauer scored the only goal in a friendly in Hanover in 1968, England could comfort themselves with the thought that, while they might be taught lessons in humility by the Americans and technique by the Hungarians they would always be able to beat the Germans.
They were not to know it at the time, but winning the World Cup in 1966 was to be the watershed of England's superiority over a variety of Germanys. That victory completed a run of seven successive wins going back to 1935, and including the infamous preamble to England's 6-3 defeat of Germany in Berlin in 1938, which saw Stanley Matthews and his team mates giving the Nazi salute.
For the Germans, Hanover broke the spell but the real parting of the ways followed England's failure, despite wearing their "lucky" red shirts, to hold a 2-0 lead in Leon in the World Cup quarter final. Outwitted tactically by Helmut Schoen Charlton off, Bonhof on Alf Ramsey's team stagnated thereafter.
By the time West Germany came to Wembley for a European Championship quarter final in 1972 they were following the Dutch into total football. After Gunther Netzer had finished with England that night the feeling at Wembley was closer to total disillusionment.
Since 1966 England have beaten Germany only twice in 13 encounters. Ironically, the best of these victories was achieved by the much maligned Don Revie's team in 1975. England's last win, 3-0 in Mexico City in a mini-tournament 10 years later, had to be set against German lack of interest in the occasion.
The Germans have won all four encounters since then, including the shoot out in Turin in the 1990 World Cup semifinals. Only in this match did England look capable of victory. Bobby Robson's side was overwhelmed in Dusseldorf, Graham Taylor's team out of its depth at Wembley and in Detroit.
If these 13 matches have n common theme it is Germany's ability to pace themselves better than England. Terry Venables' players cannot afford to ignore what happened in 1970, especially if they find themselves two up with 20 minutes to go.
