Outbreak of football: politics aside, England thumped Germany 6-3 with goals from Cliff Bastin, Jackie Robinson (2), Frank Broome, Stanley Matthews and Len Goulde

Top of the world: when the teams met in the 1966 World Cup final, England enjoyed their finest hour as they lifted the Jules Rimet trophy for the first and only time following their 4-2 defeat of West Germany

Blast from the past: Geoff Hurst, England's hat-trick hero, scores his third goal to secure their 4-2 win

Arise Sir Alf: Bobby Moore (centre) and Nobby Stiles (right) congratulate Alf Ramsey, the England manager who was later knighted

Ready for action: England reached the semi-finals of the World Cup in 1990 where they met West Germany

The equaliser: Gary Lineker cancelled out Andreas Brehme's goal to level the score at 1-1

Penalty heartbreak: with the match poised at 1-1 England entered new territory as they played their first ever penalty shoot-out. Stuart Pearce, England's fourth penalty taker, failed to convert from the spot

Cold comfort: Lothar Matthäus was on hand to console Chris Waddle who blasted his penalty over the bar

however, it was Paul Gascoigne who provided the enduring image of the finals after the midfielder broke down in tears following England's exit at the hand of their old enemy

Goal machine: Michael Owen scored a hat-trick against Germany in Munich when the teams met in 2001. Steven Gerrard and Emile Heskey also scored as the hosts were routed 5-1 in the Olympic Stadium

Painful reading: Oliver Kahn, the Germany captain and goalkeeper, later reflected on a bad day at work

Friendly fire: when the teams met for a friendly in 2008 England came out on top following their 2-1 victory