England will attempt to beat Germany in a major tournament knockout game for the first time since the 1966 World Cup final when they meet in Tuesday’s Euro 2020 last-16 tie at Wembley.
A relaxation of ticketing restrictions means 40,000 fans will be present, with both teams hoping to set up a Rome quarter-final with Sweden or Ukraine.
The Three Lions have only ever progressed from one Euros knockout tie.
“It’s an incredible record really,” said England boss Gareth Southgate.
That victory came on penalties against Spain in 1996, a tournament at which England eventually lost in the semi-finals on penalties to Germany. That defeat remains the only time England have been beaten in a major tournament on home soil.
“Something we have spoken about over the last four years is that this team doesn’t carry the baggage from previous eras,” said Southgate. “Many of them weren’t even born when many of those things happened and it is an irrelevance for them.
“It’s a real opportunity to progress to a quarter-final, albeit against a team with pedigree and experience, but it is a game we are looking forward to.”
If Germany lose – something they have not done in their past seven games against England at Wembley, winning five – it will be Joachim Low’s last match as their manager. He is set to be replaced by Hansi Flick after the tournament.
The teams have had significantly different routes to the knockout rounds. England had a more comfortable group stage than Germany, beating Croatia and the Czech Republic – and drawing against Scotland – without conceding a goal to top Group D.
Germany were six minutes away from being eliminated but Leon Goretzka’s late equaliser against Hungary took them into the last 16 after a defeat by France and win over Portugal. All their group games were at home in Munich.
Southgate has a decision to make on midfielder Mason Mount and full-back Ben Chilwell.
The pair will be available for selection after completing their self-isolation period on Monday evening.
They had come into contact with Chelsea team-mate and Scotland player Billy Gilmour, who tested positive for coronavirus.
“They are having to travel separate to the team and they have had individual training programmes this week,” Southgate said.
“The only sessions they have been able to do is join in with us when there hasn’t been full team training, so they haven’t been training fully with the team.
“It’s really complicated because there’s the physical periodisation you want for a game like this, then there’s the tactical side and they have been in a different room on Zoom for that having to dial in.
“But they are young players who I think can get on with things pretty well, so that’s the decision we’ve got to make really, whether we think that what they’ve been able to do will prepare them enough for the game.”
Germany defender Antonio Rudiger and midfielder Ilkay Gundogan are expected to be fit.
Chelsea’s Rudiger (cold) and Manchester City’s Gundogan (head injury) missed training on Sunday but were back for Monday’s session in Bavaria before flying to England.
The German FA said the team were not allowed to train at Wembley on Monday.
Thomas Muller is expected to replace Leroy Sane after recovering from a knee injury.
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