England fans relieved at avoiding Germany clash

As any England fan can attest, it's one thing losing a big international match but a defeat to the Germans is a setback of an entirely different order. Such concerns can now be put aside at least until 9 July, the next time England could meet its arch footballing rival in the final in Berlin.

The nightmare scenario was avoided last night after an unconvincing England drew with Sweden - who they have now not beaten in a dozen games since 1968 - thus topping the group.

But in the oppressive heat of Cologne, it was no Meisterwerk. A promising start deteriorated into a second half display that England's nerve-racked fans have grown accustomed to.

Celebrating in Cologne after the match, Sally Leach, 28, from Southampton said: "In the first half England seemed really good but in the second half they went to pieces. I don't know what Sven says to them in the changing room but it doesn't seem to work."

Others said their spirits were lifted by the return of Wayne Rooney, who showed his frustration at being substituted after an impressive performance by thumping the roof of the dug-out.

Geoff Sims, 42, from Altrincham, Greater Manchester, said: "He looked like a real menace. It's just a case of whether he can do it against the better teams."

The 45,000 capacity Cologne stadium resembled an England home game as fans bought up any spare tickets on the black market.

After the match, an estimated 35,000 of them drifted back into town for a late night drink. The vast majority of around 60,000 England supporters in Cologne yesterday are expected to return to the UK because the next match is not until the weekend. Those staying for the entire tournament dispersed to campsites from Amsterdam to Prague.

"It's a huge relief we are through and not facing the Germans. That's another unconvincing performance against a team we should easily beat, but we are on our way," said Lee Pratt, 26, a joiner from Harrogate.

If England fans had feared a showdown with the Germans, then bravado appeared to prevent them from admitting as much as they left the stadium last night. "You have got to beat all the best teams to get to the final," said Dean Sowden, 31, from Leeds. "The Germans have been more afraid of us than we are of them."

The Germans, who were out in force in front of the Rhineland city's giant screens to watch their team playing in Berlin, were playing along with the mind games. "We really don't mind playing England at any stage since we always seem to do well against you," said Gerald Puhl, 18, a student from Cologne. "As the saying goes, 'Football is a game with 22 players and in the end Germany wins on penalties'. The English have a strong defence and Germans have a strong attack. If you could combine the teams it would be perfect."

England fans could be forgiven for fearing such a showdown given a poor recent record and the Germans' home advantage. England were defeated in the 1990 World Cup in Italy when Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle missed penalties to send the Germans to the final. Six years later, this time in England, Germany won the semi-final of the Euro 96 after Gareth Southgate's missed penalty. In both games the Germans went on to lift the trophy.

Ecuador: the next test

* Ecuador was named after the Spanish word for equator, as it sits directly on the imaginary line that circles the Earth.

* There are 18 different languages spoken in Ecuador although Spanish is by far the most popular common language.

* Ecuador exports more bananas than any other country.

* The "Republic of the Equator" emerged from the collapse of Simon Bolivar's Gran Colombia in 1830, along with Colombia and Venezuela.

* Ecuador also controls the Galapagos islands, 600 miles offshore in the Pacific Ocean.

* Cotopaxi in the Andes is highest active volcano in the world while Quito, the capital, is the second-highest capital city in the world.

* Ecuador abandoned its own currency in 2001, and now uses the US dollar.

* Cuy, or roasted guinea pig, is a national delicacy.

* Ecuador is host to the 600-strong Waoriani tribe - a hunter-gatherer group that shuns contact with the modern world.

* Panama hats don't come from Panama. They come from Ecuador - the Andean village of Otavalo.

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