World will be watching as the best of enemies collide again

It is an appropriate description, meetings between the two old foes having long since displaced clashes with Scotland as the one Three Lions loyalists most want to win.

Brazil v Argentina may be a more intense and passionate affair, its importance being cranked up by the two countries consistently vying for the mantle of South America's best.

But the Anglo-German rivalry remains one of sport's most enduring and keenly-fought.

For that simple reason, come 3pm tomorrow, the world will be watching as Fabio Capello's men go head-to-head with Germany for a place in the World Cup quarter-finals.

Memories of previous battles ensure that no matter how dreary or exciting the game turns out to be, it will be nothing less than captivating.

Not, however, that this has always been the case, as one veteran of five previous meetings between England and West Germany explains.

"These days, there is probably only England's rivalry with Argentina and Maradona that can compare to England v Germany," says Leeds legend Norman Hunter, whose first taste of international action against the Germans came in a 1-0 friendly win at Wembley in February, 1966.

"But when I was a player, the rivalry with Germany had little of today's significance.

"We had hardly played West Germany back then so there was none of the history that now surrounds the fixture and makes it so special. It all started to change in 1966 with the World Cup final.

"Then, there was the day Gunter Netzer destroyed us at Wembley (in 1972 when West Germany won a European Championship qualifier 2-1). And there was also Mexico when West Germany got their own back for four years earlier."

Mention of the 1970 quarter-final is timely, the 3-2 victory for the Germans being the start of a Teutonic dominance that has continued for much of the past four decades.

The win came in the most dramatic of fashions. Goals from Alan Mullery and Martin Peters had put Alf Ramsey's men firmly in control with just a quarter of the match remaining and a place in the last four seemed assured.

All that changed, however, when Peter Bonetti, in for food poisoning victim Gordon Banks, committed the sort of blunder every goalkeeper dreads by allowing a weak shot from Franz Beckenbauer to squirm under his body.

Ramsey's decision to substitute Bobby Charlton with Colin Bell – the England manager had been contemplating the move moments before the goal – then proved fatal as Beckenbauer, freed from having to shackle the Manchester United man, started to dictate proceedings.

In an attempt to re-establish control, Ramsey made one more change with defender Hunter being brought on to replace Peters with nine minutes remaining.

The 66-year-old, who was an unused substitute in the 1966 finals, recalls: "The game that stands out the most, of course, is the final that we won. But the quarter-final in Mexico also sticks in the memory.

"I came on but hardly touched the ball as West Germany were all over us. We had been in control at 2-0 but then Alf brought Bobby off to try and keep him fresh (for the semi-final).

"You could see the logic, we were so in control that it seemed unlikely that West Germany would get back into the game.

"But then Peter Bonetti let one in and the game changed. Beckenbauer, who had been so busy trying to mark Bobby that he made little impact, then took over the game and we ended up losing in extra-time.

"The feeling at the final whistle was a bad one. We were out and it should never have happened.

"I feel the fierce rivalry that exists now between England and Germany can be traced back to those two World Cup games in 1966 and 1970. They gave the fixture a sense of history, which is what makes Sunday so significant."

England will be hoping to end a 44-year wait for victory over the Germans at a World Cup. They will also be looking to avenge being knocked out on three occasions by their fiercest rivals.

In 1982, England crashed out at the second group stage despite not having lost any of their five games in the tournament.

Instead, it was West Germany who emerged from the three-team group after Ron Greenwood's men could only draw 0-0 with both the Germans and Spain.

Eight years later, the sense of heartache was even more profound as England were denied a place in the final on penalties.

Throw in the Euro '96 semi-final at Wembley when a reunified Germany again triumphed in a shoot-out and it is no wonder the country is thirsty for revenge tomorrow.

Hunter, who won 28 international caps during his career, said: "It was probably inevitable we would meet. I know people are saying it is our own fault for not winning our group but we would have to face them some time so why not now?

"It is a game that has got everyone talking, not just here and in Germany but all over the world. And judging by the history between the two teams, I imagine we will have quite a few twists and turns on Sunday.

"I think we can do it. I thought Capello got it right after the Slovenia game by saying the pressure was now off. It should allow the players to play

with more freedom and confidence.

"You have to make things happen for yourself and these players should be able to do that. I was pleased to see James Milner involved against Slovenia.

"He started off slowly but, gradually, he came more and more into it. His cross for the goal was great and that will give him a lot of confidence.

"It is the same for all the team, beating Slovenia and qualifying will have given everyone a massive lift.

"It should be a good game,

and if Wayne Rooney can rediscover his best form then we have every chance of going through."