England's preparations for Euro 2016 begin with a trip to Berlin to face Germany tomorrow night.
Roy Hodgson's side were the only team to qualify with a 100% record, and they will be keen to topple the world champions and make a statement with less than three months until this summer's tournament in France.
Germany
© Getty ImagesAlthough Die Mannschaft's form has stuttered a bit of late, they are still just ahead of hosts France in the betting and favourites to add the European title to their world crown from two years ago.
Joachim Low has a squad full of talent to choose from, especially in the midfield and forward areas, and Germany will undoubtedly be the team to beat after 2014 glory in Brazil.
They finished top of their Euro 2016 qualifying group, although a surprise defeat in the penultimate round of fixtures to the Republic of Ireland meant that they needed a narrow 2-1 win over Georgia on the last matchday to ensure top spot ahead of Poland.
Since that win, Low's side have only played once, suffering their second defeat in three matches to France in the November friendly that will be remembered for being targeted as part of the Paris terror attacks.
This summer, many of the German squad will be up against a familiar face as Die Mannschaft were again placed in the same group as Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski's Poland. Joining them in Group C are Ukraine and one of the biggest surprises from qualification, Northern Ireland.
Recent form: WWWLWL
England
© Getty ImagesGermany, France and Spain are the three to beat this summer, but Hodgson's England are among the next clutch of nations who could triumph across the Channel.
The upcoming double-header against Germany and Netherlands forms part of the Three Lions' preparations for Euro 2016, with games against Turkey, Australia and Portugal to follow in May and June before they begin their quest for a first European Championship title against Russia on Saturday, June 11.
Hodgson's men were the standout side in getting to France, winning all 10 of their qualifiers with a goal differential of 31-3.
Many point to what was deemed a fairly easy group and the Three Lions can consider themselves quite lucky with who they will face in the group stage at the finals, with nearby Wales, Russia and Slovakia joining them in Group B.
After their perfect qualifying display, England were brought back to Earth by going down to defending European champions Spain last November but then bounced back with victory over France at Wembley, although the result paled into insignificance that night given what had happened in Paris four days earlier.
Defeat tomorrow would be the first time since October 1993 that England have lost back-to-back away games.
Recent form: WWWWLW
Team News
© Getty ImagesHodgson has confirmed that Chelsea defender Gary Cahill will captain the Three Lions in Wayne Rooney's absence.
Rooney was not fit enough to be named in the squad, while Manchester City duo Joe Hart and Raheem Sterling also miss out through injury. Southampton's Ryan Bertrand was a late withdrawal, so Danny Rose should make his full international debut at left-back.
With number one Hart missing, Jack Butland and Fraser Forster will play a game each this week, although Hodgson did not say who would keep goal in which match.
Germany will be without captain Bastian Schweinsteiger, whose place in France this summer could be under threat after he possibly damaged knee ligaments in training.
Karim Bellarabi and Mesut Ozil are doubts after missing training in midweek, but Low still has plenty of options and has confirmed that Mario Gomez will start in attack.
Germany possible starting lineup:
Neuer; Rudiger, Ginter, Hummels, Hector; Kroos, Khedira; Muller, Draxler, Reus; Gomez
England possible starting lineup:
Butland; Walker, Smalling, Cahill, Rose; Henderson, Dier; Lallana, Barkley, Welbeck; Kane
Head To Head
England have lost each of the last two meetings with Germany - a 4-1 defeat in a last-16 clash in the 2010 World Cup and a 1-0 defeat in a friendly in November 2013.
However, the Three Lions have won on both their previous visits to Germany – a famous 5-1 win in a September 2001 World Cup qualifier and a 2-1 friendly victory in November 2008.
England haven't kept a clean sheet in any of their last six meetings with Germany (W2 L4), conceding 10 goals.
We say: Germany 2-1 England
Spain showed last year that England are still a bit behind Europe's top nations and Germany, being at home, might just have the edge here.
