After advancing past Sweden on penalties, England faces Germany in the final of the U-21 European Championship on Wednesday. Germany is the current European Under-17 and Under-19 champion. But England has appeared the best team in the tournament to most neutrals, as Stuart Pearce's B squad outplayed Germany in the final group match. Germany has made a possibly psychological maneuver before the match in choosing to wear red rather than the traditional "home" white, a reversal of the colors that the two teams wore in the famous 1966 World Cup final.

"When we were on the [bus] and we got the news that we were going to play Germany, it seemed like it was meant to be," English captain Mark Noble said. "We're all English players and, when you get brought through the ranks from the Under-16s to the Under-21s and the senior team, whenever you play Germany, it is always a massive game. Even though it is an Under-21 championship final, there is no doubt there will be that extra little incentive because it is Germany."

 

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