EVER since Richard Hoffman scored a hat-trick in Germany’s 3-3 draw against England in Berlin on May 10, 1930 in front of 50,000 spectators in their first-ever meeting, their encounters have generated much excitement.

By the 1966 World Cup, with the passing of two World Wars, Germany became divided and Helmut Schön took charge of West Germany and Alf Ramsey managed England, who were hosting the greatest show.

On July 30, 1966 in front of some 96,000 spectators at Wembley in the World Cup final, young West Ham striker Geoff Hurst became a legend when he became the first and only man to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final. He led England to a 4-2 triumph over West Germany in extra time.

By then England had won seven of their eight head-to-heads, with one ending in a draw.

Four years later and since then, England have played second fiddle to the Germans.

Captain Uwe Seeler, Franz Beckenbauer, and an extra-time goal by lethal striker Gerd Müller, known as “Der Bomber”, knocked England out of the quarter-finals in the 1970 World Cup in Mexico.

Thereafter, the Germans have progressed farther than England in every World Cup.

Fast-forward, however, to September 2001. In a World Cup qualification match in Munich, watched by 63,000, a Michael Owen hat-trick ensured that Sven-Göran Eriksson England demolished Rudi Völler’s Germany 5-1.

It was Germany’s worst defeat at English feet since a 1938 friendly on May 18 when Sir Stanley Matthews played his role in a 6-3 victory at Berlin.

England also beat Germany when they last met on November 19, 2008 in a friendly at Berlin. Matthew Upson left-footed shot and John Terry’s headed goal gave England the 2-1 win, in front of some 75,000 spectators.

So far in this 2010 World Cup, Germany have scored five to England’s two, but Fabio Capello’s England hold the advantage in shots (46-44), and shots on goal (22-20), while Joachim Löw’s Germany have completed 1,424 of 1,828 passes to England’s 1,221 of 1,668 passes.

In terms of attacks, England have mounted 50 of which 18 came from the centre while Germany had 39 attacks, 21 coming from the right.

FIFA’s Castrol Index Ranking rates England’s players higher than Germany overall, though, with Steven Gerrard at number 17, Glen Johnson at 21, Ashley Cole at 37, Frank Lampard at 53, John Terry at 66, and goalkeeper David James at 88.

For Germany, Philipp Lahm is ranked at 3, Thomas Mueller at 42, Bastian Schweinsteiger at 62, and keeper Manuel Neuer at 95. Strikers Lukas Podolski is ranked at 125 and Mirslov Klose at 315. Based on that analysis, England do have the nod.

After 27 matches in their football history, England have won 12, drawn five, and lost 10, while of the four World Cup matches played (excluding qualification rounds), Germany won one, drawn two, and lost one. On that basis, it’s anybody’s game.