'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
After finishing at the top of Group D with seven points, England take on Germany, who emerged second from Group F in UEFA Euro 2020. The two nations have played against each other 32 times, with Germany winning on 15 occasions and the Three Lions victorious 13 times.
Gareth Southgate's side have only beaten Germany once in their last five meetings. As a result, former Bayern Munich midfielder Stefan Effenberg believes England will be the "easiest opponent" his home country has faced in the competition so far.
It is pretty evident that the Three Lions are struggling to score goals but Joachim Low's side have conceded in every Euro 2020 game so far. Germany's backline has looked incredibly vulnerable at times. With neither team boasting a significant advantage over the other at the moment, it promises to be a tight Round of 16 fixture.
On that note, here are five players to watch out for as they may make a huge difference in Tuesday's game.
#5 Harry Kane (England)
England captain Harry Kane had an excellent 2020-21 season with Tottenham. The striker scored 23 goals in 35 games and won the Premier League Golden Boot. Kane also won the league's Playmaker of the Year award with 14 assists. However, he has struggled at Euro 2020 and is yet to score or record an assist so far.
Despite his underwhelming performances, there is no doubt that Kane will lead the line for the Three Lions as their focal point in attack.
Though there is plenty of pressure on him to step up in the decisive fixture, the 27-year-old striker remains confident in himself and said:
“I’m in a good place. Going into Tuesday, physically, I’m in the best shape of the tournament so far, and that’s what I wanted. In Russia, I started on fire, scored loads of goals and then maybe didn’t have my best performances in the quarters and semis. The most important thing is that I’m calm, the team are calm and we’re in a controlled place going into the big match against Germany.”
Kane has only played against Germany once during an international friendly in March 2016, where he scored a goal. Although the Spurs striker is not enjoying his best spell in front of goal at the moment, the Germans will definitely be wary of him. Kane also looked sharp in the training video he posted.
#4 Kai Havertz (Germany)
As Germany's top scorer at Euro 2020, Kai Havertz will be a player to look out for in the upcoming game against England.
Having started in every single game thus far, Havertz is clearly a crucial player in Low's team and is likely to keep his position in the starting XI on Tuesday. The 22-year-old forward was also instrumental in Die Mannschaft's 4-2 victory over Portugal in the group stage. He netted an equalizer in the draw with Hungary as well.
Given that the attacking midfielder plays in the Premier League, Havertz is a familiar face to most English players. Many in the opposition will know what the Chelsea midfielder is capable of.
Speaking to the media ahead of the clash, Havertz said:
"I believe it's my first match against England. I don't think you can call me the player that upsets England yet. I hope I will be that player this Tuesday."
#3 Raheem Sterling (England)
With Kane not scoring for England, Raheem Sterling has proven to be the player who can make a difference at Euro 2020. Gareth Southgate will hope he will do so again against Germany.
The Three Lions have found goals extremely hard to come by, netting just twice in three matches. Sterling is the only player to have scored for Southgate's side.
Blessed with pace, the 26-year-old's top speed reached 33.1km/h and he is currently one of the top 10 fastest players in the competition. The forward has also scored 14 goals and provided six assists in his last 19 England matches.
There is little doubt that Sterling might be the savior when his side take on Germany at Wembley Stadium.
#2 Leon Goretzka (Germany)
Leon Goretzka missed Germany's opener against France due to a torn muscle fiber. He has since returned to the squad and played a combined 49 minutes against Portugal and Hungary.
More importantly, the Bayern Munich midfielder scored the equalizer against Hungary in the 84th minute. The goal sent Germany into the Round of 16 of Euro 2020.
According to Bild, the 26-year-old could be handed his first start in the competition. He is set to replace Ilkay Gundogan, who is a doubt for the game against England. There are high hopes that Goretzka's return to the team will increase Germany's chances of getting past the Three Lions and he sent a warning to England by saying,
"We have no doubts now and are full of confidence."
#1 Harry Maguire (England)
One of Southgate's most trusted players, Harry Maguire is expected to start in the clash against Germany. He appears to have sufficiently recovered from an ankle injury he suffered towards the end of the 2020-21 club season.
Maguire impressed against the Czech Republic with five ball recoveries and two clearances in 90 minutes. He also made more passes into the final third than any England player during the game.
His only game against Germany was a friendly in 2017. Maguire played the full 90 minutes as the match ended as a goalless stalemate. There can only be one winner tomorrow, however, and according to former Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann, everyone is afraid of Maguire.
The 56-year-old said:
"You have Harry Maguire, who kind of frightens everybody when this guy rolls through midfield. He reminds me a bit of Lucio, the Brazilian centre-back — he looks like a Mustang running through everybody."
