BLOEMFONTEIN: Be careful of what you wish for. Sometimes it is what you get, as Wayne Rooney has found out.
Asked last week if he would relish the prospect of meeting Germany in the second round of the World Cup, England’s talisman responded: "Yes! It would be nice to beat them."
At the time, it was presumed a new chapter in the chronicles of one of world football’s great rivalries would, if it happened at all, have to wait until a later stage of Africa’s first World Cup.
Instead, England’s sluggish start to the tournament and the consequent draws with the United States and Algeria cost them the chance of topping their group.
That condemned them to a trip to Bloemfontein on Sunday, prompted Franz Beckenbauer to call England "foolish" and left Rooney possibly regretting a throwaway line Germany’s tabloids will not allow him to forget.
England would undeniably prefer to be facing Ghana in Rustenburg on Saturday rather than traveling to the heart of South Africa 24 hours later to resume battle with opponents they last met in the World Cup in the semi-final at Italia 90, which Germany won on a penalty shoot-out before going on to lift the trophy.
The high-tempo performance against Slovenia in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday marked a belated return to form for Fabio Capello’s squad.
But the investment in terms of nervous energy was significant and the severity of the ankle injury suffered by Rooney (or has been carrying, depending on who you believe) remains unclear.
Rooney has now gone seven matches in World Cup finals without scoring and, on the evidence of his general body language around England’s base camp in Rustenburg, the frustration of not delivering on the biggest stage is weighing heavily on his muscular shoulders.
The Germans though are not counting on a below par Rooney facilitating their passage to a quarter-final encounter with either Argentina or Mexico.
The Germans have been equally complimentary, although all the comments suggesting England should be regarded as favorites carry a sub-text designed to remind the likes of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard that they have yet to really justify their reputations on the World Cup stage.
"They are star-studded with loads of experience under their belts, and I see them as favorites," Loew’s assistant Hansi Flick claimed. "They have not really shown what they are capable of. I am convinced England remain one of the favorites for the title."
Mexico will be looking to avenge their defeat at the 2006 World Cup finals when they take on two-time winners Argentina on Sunday for a place in the World Cup quarter-finals.
Four years ago in Germany, the teams met at the same Round of 16 stage and a stunning extra time goal by Maxi Rodriguez sealed a 1-0 win for Argentina, who later went out to hosts Germany in the quarter-finals.
Argentina and Mexico meet again at Soccer City on Sunday and Mexican midfielder Gerardo Torrado insists his team will "play to the death" to beat their illustrious opponents, coached by Diego Maradona.
In previous encounters, Argentina have 11 wins compared to Mexico’s four with ten games drawn and Javier Aguirre’s Mexico side will need to pull something special from the bag to create an upset.
Argentina struggled with an unconvincing qualification campaign for this World Cup, but since their arrival in South Africa have looked impressive and three wins in Group B have put them amongst the favorites for the title.
But the 31-year-old Mexican captain Torrado says his side will set out to claim the prized scalp of Maradona’s side.
"We have an encounter ahead which we have to enjoy, but we will play to the death to win it," he said on FIFA.com.
Mexico are hopeful 21-year-old Arsenal striker Carlos Vela will be fit for the match as he returns to training after a hamstring injury having missed the 1-0 defeat to Uruguay in their last Group A game.
Argentina’s attacking prowess is without question, especially as Gonzalo Higuain scored a hat-trick against South Korea, but they are more susceptible at the back.
The Mexicans will need all the front-line firepower they can get and Vela returned to training with the squad on Thursday.
