Ireland v Germany: Where the game will be won and lost

Germany coach Rudi Voeller has already intimated the pace of Damien Duff and Robbie Keane represents his greatest fear ahead of their showdown at the Kashima Stadium in Ibaraki.

With Voller certain to field an unchanged side from the one which humiliated Saudi Arabia 8-0 on Saturday, it means the towering trio of Thomas Linke, Carsten Ramelow and Christoph Metzelder - the latter 6ft 5ins - will line up at the back.