IT HAD to be Germany, didn’t it? In the World Cup, it’s as traditional as moaning about the ball, the Brazilians being over-rated, or the Dutch squabbling among themselves.

Actually, that latter hasn’t happened at all yet, which must be a good omen for the Oranje.

Still, there was something inevitable about the USA’s last-minute goal that sent England through in second place, meaning we skipped the Ghana-Uruguay route to the semis, and were left facing a probable run of Germany-Argentina-Spain-Brazil.

Anyone who wins that little lot thoroughly deserves to be World Champions.

Even a much better England squad than the one we have would struggle with that run, though every one would be a mouth-watering prospect.

And history is not on our side. The last time the Germans failed to reach the quarter finals was 1938, while every World Cup final has featured at least one of Germany, Argentina, Brazil, and Italy.

That last stat doesn’t look like changing this year, but even though I’m not expecting to see England play Brazil on July 11, I do have a good feeling about today’s match.

This is a good young German side, but not yet the ruthlessly efficient machine we’re used to seeing. If England raise their game – and traditionally, we always do against the sides with World Cup pedigree – then a win might yet be on the cards.

Besides, there would be something terrible traditional, too, about England storming to victory over their old rivals, whipping the nation up into a sense of patriotic fervour and insane optimism, only to crash out to a dodgy penalty in the next round.

My dog, by the way, has predicted a three-nil win for England, but since his prophetic skills are even worse than Mark Lawrenson’s, I wouldn’t put money on it.

For my part, I’m going for an England win in – yes – a penalty shoot-out.

Be honest. Beating the Germans on penalties. That’d almost be like winning the World Cup, anyway, wouldn’t it?