If Germany wish to see their participation in this tournament run further than just the last sixteen than they will need to pick up their game tonight and ensure that they can pick up three points against Ecuador.

In so doing Germany will at least avoid a confrontation with England in the next round, who I am sure will get the point they need to finish off as Group winners in Pool B and avoid Germany. Ecuador showed against Poland and Costa Rica that they do not just need the help of thin air in Quito to guide them to victory they can play a pretty good game as well.

They comprehensively and easily deposed of both Poland and Costa Rica without much effort and Germany will have to be wary of the dangerous Augustine Delgado who will take any half chance to bury the ball in the back of the net.

Ecuador have been in the fortunate position of finding their star men the likes of Aston Villa’s Ullises De La Cruz and Edison Mendez and Ivan Kaviedez playing at the top of the game which has obviously in turn helped them upfront as Delgado has seen a regular supply of chances from the midfield.

Germany on the other hand fought hard in their previous game against a much improved Polish team, I am sure Jurgen Klinsmann will have been happy with the performance of David Odonkor.

The 22 year old came on and created the winner for another substitute Oliver Neuville in the game against Poland - being able to call players off the bench who can turn a game in your favour will please any coach.

The likes of Michael Ballack and Torstein Frings need to bring the best party tricks to the table and anything less than victory could have disastrous consequences for Germany.

In the other game in the group Poland take on Costa Rica and more than anything else the two teams are playing for pride.

More than Costa Rica I think Poland will be very disappointed to be going on holiday after tonight and not to the next round of the competition, by any means that had a disappointing tournament and really have not made much of an improvement since the last FIFA World Cup Four years ago.

Group B

England Vs Sweden

Match 35

Sven Goran Eriksson will have made a very demanding expectant soccer mad nation very happy with the news that Wayne Rooney will be taking to the field against Sweden in Cologne on Tuesday evening.

England got their game going towards the end of the match against Trinidad and Tobago and even though Steven Crouch got a goal in the game I feel he still had a bad game.

David Beckham created some easy chances for him and he was just wasteful for England. It is a good omen to have Rooney back for tonight’s game as he can get some playing time under his belt ahead of the second round of games.

England will be looking to win the group and avoid Germany, as they will be better off with a game against Ecuador as they will feel that they will have a better chance of reaching the quarterfinals should they play Ecuador. With Rooney back I am sure England fancy their chances in tonight’s game and will at least look to take a point out of the game.

Sweden on the other hand should go through as I feel that for Trinidad & Tobago to beat Paraguay might be a bridge too far unless they can really pull off something special, I do think that Sweden will progress from this group with England.

Sweden can count themselves very lucky as they have at times not lived up to their reputations with some of their big names failing them, Zlatan Ibrahimovic can definitely fall into this category.

He is not half the player he was two years ago when he helped Sweden to the ¼ Finals at Euro 2004 in Portugal more is required from him and Henrik Larsson who has been equally disappointing. My final analysis is that Sweden and England will draw this game and England will end as the winners of the group.