Hint: they’re not happy

Obviously, the English press are delighted with last night’s victory in Berlin, but it’s good to know that the German media is just as negative and over-the-top when it comes to embarrassing international defeats.

Bild, Germany’s biggest daily and the equivalent of The Sun, is lamenting the German “B” eleven’s loss to the England “C” Eleven. Somehow, they conclude that a German side without Michael Ballack and Philipp Lahm constitutes a reserve side, and the Three Lions have been downgraded to a “C” for no particular reason.

The Germans have always boasted of their team’s overall strength, rather than the outstanding contributions of any particular player, so it’s interesting to see them blame the loss on Ballack and Lahm’s absence.

Bild believe Die Mannschaft are failing to recover from the power struggle that saw coach Jogi Loew and Michael Ballack fall out, and are calling the defeat the worst since they crashed out 3-0 to the Czech Republic in 2007.

Germany/ England, 7.45pm, ITV1, Free £10 bet

With ten players ruled out through injury and David Beckham missing because of a lack of match fitness, England have a convenient excuse lined up should it all go wrong tonight in Berlin. However, in the past, the away team has had the advantage in these encounters, so Fabio Capello will be hoping that trend plays in his favour tonight

Here are some reasons why England will steal a result tonight, courtesy of the handsome devils at chickendinner:

» England have never lost in Berlin - winning four and drawing three of their games against West Germany and unified Germany.

» And the Three Lions last trip to Germany was in the 2002 World Cup qualifiers when England historically won 4-2.

» Likewise, Germany perform better away from home against England, going

Patrick Helmes plans to celebrate memory of his furry friend

When England and Germany’s reserve teams meet in Berlin tomorrow night, one player will be more determined than any other to ripple the net. Last month, Bayern Leverkusen’s Patrick Helmes was devastated by the passing of his 17-month-old golden retriever Emmy, and he has been banging in goals for her ever since:

“My dog was like my baby. I cried for days when she died.”

Since Emmy went to the big kennel in the sky, Helmes has scored twice, and on each occasion he has “pointed to the sky with his index finger, looked to the clouds and thought about her.”

If you see a thoughtful pointing man at the sky in the Olympic Stadium tomorrow night, you’ll know exactly why.

[Bild]