Well this is it. The big one. The most important game since....well, since the last one really, when we stumbled past Slovenia in the Group stages. There are two more games today in the knockout stages – England vs Germany and Argentina vs Mexico. Both games on paper look like absolute crackers, so lets have a little look at both games in more detail. First up at 15:00 is England vs Germany. England will again be donning their ‘lucky’ all red strip, and the game is being shown on ‘lucky’ BBC1, so will this be the game that Rooney starts scoring in?

Capello is likely to start with the same team he picked for the Slovenia game, although its possible that Ledley King could come in for Upson to form the first choice defensive partnership with John Terry. With Milner providing the crosses from the right Rooney might well enjoy himself a lot more in this game, being able to trust that the ball will get to him and so making the runs into the box.

One thing that Lennon and Wright-Phillips were both guilty of was not doing this, meaning that Rooney eventually stopped making the runs and dropped deeper to get the ball. This of course meant that when we attacked we had no outlet, and Rooney was left a frustrated and dispirited figure. Milners ability to get the ball in and Jermain Defoes willingness to support Rooney in the striking role should mean that he gets off the mark today.

-For Germany, the brilliantly named Bastian Schweinsteiger faces a late fitness test to see if he takes his place alongside tricky playmaker Mesut Ozil in the centre of midfield. Miroslav Klose is back after suspension and is closing in on the all time all time goalscoring record in the World Cup. 

England 3-2 Germany – 50/1 with William Hill and 888sports

England or Germany to win on penalties – 17/2 with Paddy Power

Rooney to score at any time – 2/1 with Paddy Power

Rooney to score a hattrick – 80/1 with Paddy Power ________________________________________________________________________

Money-Back Special Paddy Power will refund all losing 1st/last goalscorer, correct score and scorecast singles on this match if it ends 0-0. ________________________________________________________________________

The other game today is Argentina vs Mexico. Argentina are one of the few fancied sides to have shown they are capable of lifting the trophy next month as they comfortably brushed aside South Korea, Nigeria and Greece, netting seven goals and conceding just one and so they are unsurprisingly firm favourites to progress.

However they may not have it all their own way against a Mexico side who have lost once in seven games against South American opposition and did well to progress from a group containing France, Uruguay and the host nation. But all the statistics in the world won’t change the fact that this is a match Argentina should win at a canter.

The three-pronged attack of Leo Messi, Gonzalo Higuain and Carlos Tevez should be reunited after the latter two were rested for the win over Greece and they will cause the Mexico defence all kinds of trouble with Messi especially anxious to grab his first World Cup goal.

Argentina to win 3-0 – 10/1 with 888sport

Messi to score at anytime – Evens with Paddy Power

Mexico to win - 6/1 with Ladbrokes, William Hill , Bet 365 and Paddy Power

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