Germany, England bid to stave off early meeting

BERLIN, June 20: Germany and England know each other too well to relish a World Cup meeting in the last 16 and the rivals will be desperate to stave off another emotive clash when they play their final group games today.

Germany, the three times World Cup winners, and England, who won the competition for the only time when they beat the Germans in the final on home soil at Wembley in 1966, have already secured qualification for the second phase.

The hosts still need to beat Ecuador at the Olympiastadion in Berlin (1400 GMT) today to clinch top spot in Group A.

The incentive is to avoid the first-placed team in Group B and that will be England if they avoid defeat against Sweden in Cologne (1900 GMT).

Sweden, in turn, most grab at least a point to clinch qualification, or hope that Trinidad&Tobago do not beat Paraguay in a match that kicks off at the same time.

Germany are so determined to win the group they will line up with captain Michael Ballack, who is threatened by suspension.

''Winning the group is very important to us,'' coach Juergen Klinsmann said on the eve of the game. ''We want to go through with our chests puffed out.'' The other match in Group A in Hanover will merely decide whether Costa Rica or Poland finish bottom of the group.

The situation in Group B is a little more complicated. England lead on six points after beating Paraguay and Trinidad&Tobago.

Sweden have four points, while the Caribbean side have one and are not yet out of contention.

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson will give a first World Cup start to young striker Wayne Rooney, who needs time on the pitch after coming back from a serious foot injury.

''He looks sharper and sharper in training,'' Eriksson told reporters. ''He will very soon be ready 100 percent.'' England have not beaten Sweden in 38 years so they know they are in for a tough battle against their coach's home country.

Trinidad, appearing at the finals for the first time, need a huge favour from England, as well as victory over Paraguay in Kaiserslautern, to stand a chance of going through.

In yesterday's games, Switzerland took a step towards the last 16 when they won 2-0 against Togo, knocking out the Africans.

The Swiss have four points from two games in Group G and lead South Korea on goal difference. France, the 1998 winners, are in third place with two points and in danger of going out in the first round for the second World Cup in succession.

In Group H, Ukraine recovered from their humiliation at the hands of Spain in their opening match to beat Saudi Arabia 4-0 and stay in with a chance of qualification. Spain came from behind to beat Tunisia 3-1 and book their place in the last 16.

Reuters

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