Germany's players offered £1million to beat England!

Germany's players have been offered an astonishing £1 MILLION bribe to beat England in today's make or break World Cup clash.

The extraordinary bonus was yesterday sanctioned by German football bosses - on the same day our players were subjected to a string of vile, personal attacks in the German press.

Germany's manager Joachim Loew - who last night skipped a press conference as pressure built on the eve of today's clash - announced the win bonus to his country's players.

The three-time world champions are so desperate to beat Fabio Capello's men in Bloemfontein today that they have agreed to make a one-off payment of almost £50,000 to every member of their 23-man squad.

The Germans have spent the week trying to portray England's players as the bad boys of the World Cup where, in fact, Fabio Capello's squad have agreed to give their appearance fees for today's game to charities.



But that did not stop the string of savage attacks on our boys in Germany's media.

Captain Steven Gerrard was labelled a bar-room brawler and star striker Wayne Rooney is described as a 'Freier' - a man who pays for sex.

And in a further sign the Germans were running scared they yesterday failed to send a player to the pre-match press conference.

They said it was in protest for the not being allowed to train on the Bloemfontein pitch.

The mud-slinging against our players appeared yesterday in the country's biggest selling newspaper - Bild - in an article under the headline: "Now our good German boys take on the English rowdies."

The article said: "They play the same game, but are completely different people.

"The best lesson for the English scoundrels? Send them home. No later than Monday."

German player Thomas Müller, who faces England defender Ashley Cole, is described as a faithful husband whereas Cole is labelled as a serial adulterer.

Wayne Rooney comes in for stick when the Germans drag up the details of his visits to massage parlours as a very young man six years ago. Jermain Defoe is described as a cross dresser, famous for getting his leg over.

And the Germans shamefully denounce captain Gerrard as a barroom brawler - a reference to an incident two years ago he was, in fact, cleared of. But his opposite number German captain Philipp Lahm is, you guessed it, a serious campaigner on AIDS issues and helps children in need.

John Terry is described as a man who loves to dabble with the girlfriend of another player while Miroslav Klose, the German striker, is described as a model footballer and keen angler.

But England's heroes rose above the mud-slinging yesterday - with Steven Gerard telling his teammates they were set to play the biggest game of their lives.

England's skipper said today's clash with the Germans was "massive" and vowed to have "no regrets" when the final whistle is blown.

Gerrard, 30, said: "We're ready. The mood is good. We've worked hard and we will do whatever it takes to get into the last eight."

And the Liverpool midfielder vowed t that fellow Scouser Wayne Rooney would break his World Cup scoring drought.

Speaking last night, Gerrard said: "I have no doubt that Wayne will score tomorrow.

"He's under pressure but the pressure is on the whole team. Top players put themselves under pressure. I'm sure that is what Wayne is doing.

" Manager Fabio Capello also revealed that Rooney has scored a hatful of goals in training since qualifying for the last 16.

"Rooney is training well and scoring lots of goals," he said. "He is very important for us. It is only a matter of time befor he scores in a match.

"We all expect that to be against Germany."

Yesterday the huge travelling army of Three Lions fans started their 20,000-strong descent on Bloemfontein -desperate to play a noisy, colourful part in our epic clash.

Our diehard supporters displayed glorious St George spirit as they packed sold-out flights from all corners of South Africa, slept all night on train carriage floors and drove for up to 10 hours in hire cars and minibuses.

And as they flocked to the 44,000-seat Free State Stadium in South Africa's remotest province, they were praying that our Three Lions would finally roar.

Countdown to crunch time

(local South African times) 4pm

Yesterday: The team board the coach from their Rustenburg training camp for Sun City airport, before an hour-long flight to Bloemfontein. They check in at the Bloem Spa Lodge in sight of the Free State Stadium.

7pm: Coach Fabio Capello and captain Steven Gerrard speak to the world in their last press conference before the game.

7.30pm: The squad tuck into a nutritional dinner of pasta, chicken, fish, vegetables and rice.

8.30pm: They relax in the hotel and watch last night's game between Ghana and the USA before drifting off to their rooms at around 10.30.

9am TODAY: The players assemble for the match-day breakfast of fruit, yoghurt, poached eggs and toast.

11am: The players gather for a group stretching session with physio Gery Lewin before a morning of relaxation.

12.30pm: Lunch of fresh pasta, steamed vegetables and fish.

2pm: They board the coach and drive past thousands of cheering fans as they sweep into the stadium.

3pm: They find their place in the dressing room and change into their warm-up kits before heading on to the pitch for the first time.

4pm: Captain Gerrard leads the team out. The stadium erupts. Come on England!


(source: mirror.co.uk)