England fans set for World Cup match against Germany

Thousands of British fans in South Africa are geared up for England’s crunch World Cup last-16 match against Germany.

“As soon as the whistle goes the England fans will start singing and we will be so loud that you won’t even be able to hear the vuvuzelas. This is the big one and we need to make sure everyone is up for it. The atmosphere has been just amazing,” The Telegraph quoted Mel Speed, an England fan, as saying. 

“Everyone is mixing together and swapping stories. I have loved every minute of it,” he added.

About 15,000 supporters have arrived in Bloemfontein, where security remains tight, as UK and German police are on patrol in the city.

Assistant chief constable Andy Holt, leading the UK delegation, praised the behaviour of England fans and said he did not expect trouble.

“The fans will see British bobbies paired up with German bobbies. We are trying to get the message across loud and clear that we are working together extremely closely. We’re playing perhaps our biggest rival in footballing terms,” The BBC quoted Holt, as saying.

“They’ve beaten us in previous competitions. That’s the sort of tension that adds to the whole atmosphere. I’m mindful of that. I still don’t think there will be mass disorder, but it will be a more nervous and tenser affair than any match we've had previously in South Africa,” he added.

England went through to the knockout stage after they came second behind USA in Group C.

Fans fear a repeat of the 1990 World Cup and Euro 96 semi-finals when England lost to Germany on penalties.

However, an in-depth statistical analysis has revealed that Fabio Capello’s men have a better scoring rate from the spot than their German counterparts.

The survey for The Sun by statistics experts at Opta looked at the past four seasons - covering English and German league games, domestic cup competitions in England, Champions League matches and internationals.

It revealed that the players in Germany's squad for the World Cup scored 23 penalties in 29 attempts, a success rate of 79 per cent, while England stars tucked away 79 out of 98, or 80 per cent.

It also found that England keeper David James is better at stopping spot kicks than German goalie Manuel Neuer.

James has saved nine out of 29, a rate of 37.9 per cent, while Neuer has kept out four of 11, or 36.4 per cent.