德國隊已經開始提前考慮到他們在世界盃的第二階段可能會碰到的死敵英格蘭隊。隊長巴拉克在德國時間6月6號的新聞發佈會中説道，“我不否認，我們已經開始考慮第二階段可能碰到的對手—英格蘭隊”。

　　“很可能對手會是巴拉圭，瑞典或者是英格蘭。我認為英格蘭是一支很好的球隊，這支球隊要比前幾年的球隊更加強大，因為他們有更多經驗豐富的球員。”

　　作為東道主，德國隊絕對有理由相信，他們可以進入淘汰賽階段。三屆世界盃的得主將會在德國時間週五的慕尼黑迎戰哥斯達黎加。與他們同組的還有A組的波蘭和厄瓜多爾。

　　B組中的球隊英格蘭，瑞典，巴拉圭和特立尼達和多巴哥隊將會是德國人在第二階段的潛在對手。巴拉克顯然不願意碰到英格蘭隊。

　　“英格蘭毫無疑問是奪冠熱門，剩下就是巴西和阿根廷了”巴拉克這樣説道，下個賽季，他將前往切爾西效力，到時少不了要和英格蘭隊友並肩作戰。

　　他繼續説道，“不過他們能否經受得住外界的壓力，又是另外的問題了。”

　　英格蘭和德國隊在世界盃的賽場上已經有過幾次經典的對抗。

　　在１９６６年，在溫布利球場，英格蘭隊取得了他們歷史上唯一的一次世界盃冠軍，當時，他們在加時賽中，以４比２擊敗了當時的西德隊。

　　四年之後，前西德隊在1/4決賽的加時賽中，以３比２將英格蘭人淘汰出局。

　　在１９９０年的意大利世界盃的半決賽中，雙方經過艱苦的比賽後，最終，德國人在點球大戰中戰勝英格蘭隊，也最終取得那一屆世界盃的冠軍，第三次捧起大力神盃。

　　他們唯一的另外一次在世界盃上的碰面，是在１９８２年的小組賽中，雙方均無建樹，戰成了０比０。

　　鏈結：http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/060606/7/75ci.html

　　原文：Ballack eyes possible England match-up

　　6 June 2006

　　by Reuters

　　Germany have already started thinking ahead to possible opponents in the second round of the FIFA World Cup? and it has escaped no one's attention that they could be about to renew their old rivalry with England.

　　"I won't deny we've been thinking about who we could be playing in round two," captain Michael Ballack said at a news conference on Tuesday.

　　"It's no secret that it's going to be Paraguay, Sweden or England. I think the English have a very good team, a better one than they've had in the past few years with a lot more experienced players."

　　Ballack's comments were a departure from the usual line trotted out by players at the FIFA World Cup that they are just taking one game at a time.

　　Hosts Germany have every reason to be confident of reaching the knockout phase. The three-times FIFA World Cup winners get the tournament underway against Costa Rica in Munich on Friday and also play Poland and Ecuador in Group A.

　　Group B teams England, Sweden, Paraguay and Trinidad & Tobago are their potential opponents in the next round and it is clear that Ballack would like to avoid the English.

　　"There's no doubt that they are one of the favourites to lift the Trophy, along with Brazil and Argentina," said Ballack, who will be team-mates with several England players when he moves to Premier League champions Chelsea next season.

　　"Whether they can deal with the pressure from the public is another matter," he added.

　　England and Germany have played several classic matches at the FIFA World Cup.

　　In 1966, England won the FIFA World Cup for the only time in their history with a 4-2 extra-time win over West Germany in the final at Wembley.

　　West Germany knocked out the English in another memorable match four years later, a 3-2 extra-time success in the quarter-finals.

　　The Germans emerged victorious again in the semi-finals in Italy in 1990, winning on penalties after an exhausting struggle and going on to win the FIFA World Cup for the third time.

　　Their only other FIFA World Cup meeting was a goalless draw in a group match in 1982.

　　作者-北京第二外國語學院英語系，岳東興

責編：佟杉杉