At least one Rooney is shining

Despite dominating the match for long periods, England secured a narrow and ultimately nail-biting victory against their fiercest rival.

Rooney was at his dominant and confident best, again proving himself to be the best in Europe.

Unfortunately for those bearing the Three Lions in South Africa these statements relate to two independent events in England this weekend and had nothing to do with football.

England's cricketers, despite a late wobble, held on to clinch a series victory against Australia at Old Trafford, while in Birmingham, Martyn Rooney set a European-best time in the 400 metres race.

England can be glad that the Germans don't play cricket as the tone for the World Cup eliminator had been set earlier in the day in Valencia with Germany's Sebastien Vettel romping home ahead of the McLarens of English drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, while Australian Mark Webber walked away from a death-defying accident.

Prior to the start of the match in South Africa the omens for England did not look good with Germany having qualified for the quarter-finals every year since 1938. If the match were to go to the wire, the Germans boasted the best penalty shoot-out record in World Cup history (having not missed for 28 years), while England had the worst. Ultimately, it was not even close.

Calamitous defending cost England a 2-0 deficit midway through the first half, although they battled back gamely through a brave Upson header before the most debated and questionable refereeing decision since 1966 cost England parity.

Over the course of the match England secured greater possession and had more shots, even rattling the woodwork twice. However, with England's defence increasingly exposed, a recovery never looked likely.

The Germans were simply more inventive in attack using clever flicks to create space while their midfield and defence were more committed and decisive.

In truth, while England can justifiably call for the introduction of the goal-line technology opposed by FIFA president Sepp Blatter, apportioning blame is simply papering over the cracks. Germany's win was rooted in the system adopted back home.

The German FA has for years insisted on setting stringent financial regulations on clubs ensuring they are run sensibly and with easily manageable levels of debt. There is also a restriction on the number of overseas players allowed which, combined with the financial restrictions, ensures clubs to invest in only the best players from overseas, thereby allowing their youngsters opportunities to play and learn, while directing profits into coaching at grassroots levels.

Never has this been more demonstrable than in their 4-0 demolition of England in the final of the European U-21 championship last summer, a win secured by Ozil and Mueller, two players who excelled again at senior level. It will be interesting to see how the game in England changes as a result.

England are not the only team exiting the World Cup feeling aggrieved. Mexico started brightly against Argentina and shook the crossbar before falling behind to the second-worst refereeing decision of the tournament.

After Tevez challenged the Mexican keeper the ball broke to Messi whose lob to Tevez caught his partner as the man nearest to the goal line with no defender within a yard.

The errant linesman appeared to be swayed by the counter arguments from both teams as they surrounded the officials.

The goal was allowed to stand. As with England, the Mexicans quickly conceded a second through a defensive error.

The second half saw a battle between two pint-sized Manchester forwards duelling for goal of the tournament.

First, City forward Tevez slammed a shot from 30 yards around the keeper into the top corner to give Argentina an unassailable 3-0 lead, before United-bound Hernandez cleverly rolled his marker, muscled out the defender and hit an unstoppable shot in off the underside of the crossbar to have the Old Trafford faithful salivating and the Mexicans some respect in the score-line.

The final matches of the group stages saw an end to Switzerland's World Cup record of going 550 minutes without conceding a goal while the South African victory over a self-imposed imploding French team ensured they did not become the first host nation to fail to register a win (although they do become the first host nation to be knocked out at this stage of the tournament). Also joining them on a long trip back to Europe were the current holders of the World Cup, Italy.

The quarter-finals promise some mouth-watering matches. Argentina will have an opportunity to avenge their loss to Germany who defeated them on home soil in 2006.

Both teams look weak defensively - I'm backing Maradona to make it to the semi's due to the more potent goal threat posed by their illustrious forwards.