Charleroi, Belgium - Need there even be an introduction?

The national teams and fans of England and Germany are slated to meet Saturday for the 23rd time in history since the very first match was staged between the two rivals 70 years ago in Berlin with England getting the better of the Germans, 3-0.

When the 2000 European Championships draw was unveiled, fans across the continent and the world marked off June 17, clearing holidays and calendars for what is sure to be one of the most heated and entertaining first-round match-ups in recent memory.

In the two countries' 22 previous meetings, results could not have been closer. England won nine times, Germany on eight occasions, and there have also been five draws recorded between them.

However, the most recent draws between England and Germany have been ultimately decided on penalties - Germany winning both the 1990 World Cup semifinal match and also a semifinal clash during Euro '96.

Despite the draws prior to heading into the penalty rounds, it is these two matches that the English, lead by Kevin Keegan, wish to avenge the most.

Whatever happens here at Euro 2000, Germany and England have already been paired up again for the first round of European World Cup qualifiers for 2002.

Saturday's match could is also the beginning of the end for two players that have been the most prolific for their respective countries over the past several years.

At the end of the championships, Germany's Lothar Matthaeus and England's Alan Shearer both plans to call it quits on their international careers.

Matthaeus, the men's record holder in international appearances and oldest player at the championships at 39, has been selected by coach Erich Ribbeck despite his lackluster performance against Romania last Monday in a 1-1 draw.

The match marked Matthaeus' 147th cap after almost 20 years with Germany.

Shearer's play at Euro 2000 has already been questioned by the media, though his pace and skill has the full support of the entire England squad.

The difference between Shearer and Matthaeus is about 10 years, however, as the Englishman will not even turn 30 until August.

Saturday's match is one that neither England nor Germany - the current holder of the European crown - can afford to lose. It is a match for national pride, but also one that will dictate both teams' immediate futures in the competition.

England, which dropped its tournament opener 3-2 to Portugal last Monday, will be held back by injuries that will force Keegan to make several changes for this do-or-die date. Tenacious midfielder Steve McManaman and Tony Adams - the most capped player for the English - are both gone for England with injuries.

The Germans are also experiencing a few injury woes, the most of which is the news that captain Oliver Bierhoff - Germany's top striker - is gone for the remainder of the competition with an injury to his right calf. The news is not a welcome for the Germans, who, despite a fairly solid back line, struggle on both the attack and in the midfield.

Germany will most likely continue a five-man midfield, forcing Keegan to keep a three-player midfield - a trio which will probably include Paul Scholes, Paul Ince and Dennis Wise. If the three are able to win midfield chances against their counterparts, some good through balls to Michael Owen could lead to the Liverpool front runner to have some great chances, similar those he had in the memorable game against Argentina. We could even see his name on the score sheet.

Both midfields will be the keys to the match here with a result probably decided on which is most effective to freeing up their attack.

As for the men roaming the sidelines in severely anxious tones, no doubt, for the match, there are several key differences between them that could cost their teams the much-needed three points.

Keegan, enthusiastic and who has experienced a great deal of success throughout his playing career, is a relative "rookie" coach at the championships while Ribbeck, who didn't have as prolific a playing career, is a bit more of a seasoned coach.

While a loss here for Keegan would not prove as dire for his time on the English bench, a poor result for Germany will probably cost Ribbeck his Germany contract.

Probable teams:

Germany:
Kahn, Matthaeus, Babbel, Nowotny, Deisler, Hamman, Scholl, Jeremies, Ziege, Jancker, Kirsten.

England:
Seaman, G. Neville, Keown, Campbell, P. Neville, Beckham, Scholes, Ince, Wise, Shearer, Owen.