With just one penalty shootout victory out of six in major tournaments, England hardly need to be told about the importance of getting it right from the spot.
But they got that advice all the same — and from a German.
Franz Beckenbauer, nicknamed “Der Kaiser” and the only man to lift the World Cup as a player and a manager, had already fired the opening salvo in the increasingly hostile war of words between elements of the English and German press before today’s World Cup game in Bloemfontein.
He said yesterday: “My advice to Fabio Capello would be to practise penalties. I did the same in 1990. It’s not only luck or mental strength.”
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England lost on penalties to West Germany, then managed by Beckenbauer, in the World Cup semi-finals in 1990 and at the same stage of the European Championship six years later.
Beckenbauer refused to budge from his prediction of a win for his country. “I expect it to be 2-2 after 90 minutes. Nothing will happen in extra time. The Germans will win on penalties. I am sorry. The hope for England could be that my predictions are sometimes wrong.”
Beckenbauer had criticised England at the start of the tournament for their outdated “kick-and-rush” approach and suggested their players would be jaded because of a long domestic season.
He was more emollient yesterday, however: “I apologise for my harsh criticism of the England team. I only did so because I was disappointed about their first two performances. I expected more from them and the third game was much better. There was the old English spirit again.”
His compatriot Jurgen Klinsmann, currently a pundit with the BBC, told The Sunday Times that Beckenbauer’s original comments were not valid.
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“I don’t buy it. I think that the style of play of English football changed over the last 15 years. It is, of course, because of a lot of foreigners coming to the country.
Nothing will happen in extra time. The Germans will win on penalties There is no kick-and-rush in that game anymore. They have the quality to outplay any team in the world — if they step up to a higher pace.”
He predicted the occasion would produce “an amazing game” and highlighted the contrast between the two sides.
“You have a very young German team that actually needs a little bit of time to develop. And then you have an English side that hasn’t really started the tournament yet. No England player has so far shown his real capabilities. And maybe that is what Germany is a little bit scared about.
They look at the names and they know them all: Lampard, Gerrard, Rooney, Terry. Once they have really improved, it will be tough to beat them. So, we have a lot of respect.”
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If Germany are to win then Klinsmann believes they will be heavily reliant on Miroslav Klose, who returns after a one-match suspension.
Klinsmann, who scored 47 goals in 108 appearances and managed Germany to third place at the last World Cup, said: “I am happy Klose is back because he is really the only top-class striker in our squad.”
Equally crucial to England’s chances, he believes, is the form of Wayne Rooney.
“From a neutral position, we all wish he really enters the tournament soon. I want to see an English team playing their best ... but losing at the end of the day!”