We Can't Help Mentioning The War

Germany play Poland tonight and it was embarrassing listening to Breakfast on 5Live this morning when a sense of menace and foreboding was introduced into the build-up. We can't forget the war even for a match that doesn't involve us, 80% of the German population was born after 1941, do they have to be reminded of the war? It's the same when England play Germany, the tabloids go over board and those wonderful, original and humorous supporters of ours can't help singing, "Two World Wars and one World Cup." I'm sure there's a German supporter who'd love to reply with "Three World Cups and Forty years unrivaled economic growth," but he'd be as popular as the bloke on the terraces at Borussia Moenchengladbach who can't resist shouting "Give us a B."

The two sides last met on 4 September 1996 in the Polish town of Zabrze, when goals from Oliver Bierhoff and Klinsmann enough to see them through 2-0, if Poland don't get a point tonight they'll be the first team going home.