Ballack eyes possible England match-up

BERLIN, June 6 (Reuters) Germany have already started thinking ahead to possible opponents in the second round of the World Cup and it has escaped no one's attention that they could be about to renew their old rivalry with England.

''I won't deny we've been thinking about who we could be playing in round two,'' captain Michael Ballack said at a news conference today.

''It's no secret that it's going to be Paraguay, Sweden or England. I think the English have a very good team, a better one than they've had in the past few years with a lot more experienced players.'' Ballack's comments were a departure from the usual line trotted out by players at the World Cup that they are just taking one game at a time.

Hosts Germany have every reason to be confident of reaching the knockout phase. The three-times World Cup winners get the tournament underway against Costa Rica in Munich on Friday and also play Poland and Ecuador in Group A.

Group B teams England, Sweden, Paraguay and Trinidad&Tobago are their potential opponents in the next round and it is clear that Ballack would like to avoid the English.

''There's no doubt that they are one of the favourites to lift the trophy, along with Brazil and Argentina,'' said Ballack, who will be team mates with several England players when he moves to Premier League champions Chelsea next season.

''Whether they can deal with the pressure from the public is another matter,'' he added.

England and Germany have played several classic matches at the World Cup.

In 1966, England won the World Cup for the only time in their history with a 4-2 extra-time win over West Germany in the final at Wembley.

West Germany knocked out the English in another memorable match four years later, a 3-2 extra-time success in the quarter-finals.

The Germans emerged victorious again in the semi-finals in Italy in 1990, winning on penalties after an exhausting struggle and going on to win the World Cup for the third time.

Their only other World Cup meeting was a goalless draw in a group match in 1982.

REUTERS DH VC1855