10 months ago 22nd Aug 16:56
It's official: we are over 1966...but Germany is still the team to beat!
More than forty years of hurt have finally healed for England supporters. As the England squad prepare to take on old rivals Germany for the first time at the new Wembley tonight (Wednesday 22nd), the game officially signals the start of a new era for supporters of both teams.
That's because new research out today reveals that England fans have officially laid to rest the triumph of our World Cup win in 1966 as our greatest footballing moment against Germany. More than double the number of fans (50%) say the 5-1 thrashing in Munich in 2001 is the best-ever, compared to 25% who reckon Bobby Moore lifting the Jules Rimet trophy is their favourite.
Even the over 55s who are old enough to have watched it live are equally split over 1966 and the 5-1 result while German fans themselves admit to being much more embarrassed about the 5-1 thrashing than losing the 1966 Final.
While we still see Germany as our biggest rivals and the team we most like to beat, that's no longer the case for German fans. They say Italy, Holland and Brazil are ahead of England as the team they most want to beat, with Italy and Brazil as their biggest perceived rivals.
The survey of English and German fans by National Express, Official Travel Partner of the England Team, found that when it comes to dedicated, passionate support, the English are twice as likely to throw a work sickie to see the game - 32% of England fans would, compared to only 16% of German fans. But German supporters are more likely to wear the team shirt and fly the flag, and much more likely to sing along to National Anthem.
Simon Kuper author of Football Against the Enemy and journalist comments:
"One of the most interesting things about the poll is how one-way this rivalry is: a majority of English fans enjoy beating Germany more than any other team, but very few German fans are concerned about England. The English feelings don't seem to have much to do with the war: in fact, the age category that cares least about beating Germany are the over-55s, the only people who might actually remember the war.
"What would it take for the English to get over the Germans? Probably a few more victories. The defeats of 1970, 1990 and 1996 remain great English frustrations. It would also help if England started to lose their biggest games against teams like Holland or Italy, but historically they almost always get knocked out of world cups by either Germany or Argentina. The tabloids couldn't have designed the schedules any better. Germany is under the English skin."
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