These two old foes will meet each other in what is set to be another intriguing encounter, as England aim to win their first trophy at this level since 1984.
Both teams have shown glimpses of promise throughout the tournament, but ultimately they have risen to the top of what has been a poor tournament in terms of the quality of football - with no team really taking the tournament by the scruff of the neck.
England versus Germany is always an important game, at whatever level. Stuart Pearce will know the feeling of losing to the West Germans after his penalty miss in the World Cup semi-final shoot-out in 1990. In 1996 it was a similar story for Pearce, although he did not miss a penalty, England crashed out of the European Championships on penalties to Germany.
Pearce stresses though that history will have no effect on tonight's encounter. Speaking a the pre-match press conference yesterday, he said: "What's gone before is irrelevant...The only history we want to create is tomorrow night."
Germany coach, Horst Hrubesch agreed: "England have some advantage over us at set-pieces, but I don't think that will have any influence," he said.
The two teams squared-up in their Group B game in Halmstad last week with England finding more out about Germany than their opponents did about them. Stuart Pearce, the England coach, opted to name, in effect, his second string against the Germans with qualification already ensured.
Despite a supposedly weakened team and conceding within the first five minutes, England equalised and then took control of the game in the second half, playing some of their best football of the tournament to date.
Ahead of the final, there are suspensions for both sides. England will be without Gabriel Agbonlahor, their first choice striker and his deputy, Frazier Campbell, after a booking and a red card against Sweden respectively. Theo Walcott is therefore expected to take up the forward role, with Adam Johnson coming in on the left.
Joe Lewis or Scott Loach will come in for Joe Hart, who picked up his second yellow during the dramatic penalty shoot-out with Sweden. Both 'keepers played 45 minutes each of their previous meeting with Germany.
Germany are without striker, Ashkan Dejagah, through suspension after he picked up his second booking of the tournament in their semi-final win over Italy. Sandro Wagner is expected to take his place. Marko Marin, meanwhile, is struggling to be fit but Sami Khedira (pictured) should return after a spell on the sidelines.
Germany's defence is the strongest in the competition having only conceded one goal in their four games. Hrubesch maintains this strength could see them through. "We've got a very strong team with exceptional qualities, especially individually...We've played some very good football at times and this might be one of the strongest sides to ever to represent Germany at this level" the former West Germany international said.
Key to their "very good football" has been Mesut Ozil, the Werder Bremen midfield schemer, who some have likened to Diego. England will need to be wary of the Gelsenkirchen-born player as well as Gonzalo Castro, who scored against them in Halmstad.
Whatever happens, it is sure to be an intriguing night, and it could still be settled on penalties, as so often is the case between these two sides. England would be confident though as for once, they know they can hold their nerve.
Photo Credit: -bast-
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