By Karl-Heinz Rummenigge Jun 21, 2006, 16:13 GMT
Berlin - Sweden will prove a tougher proposition than England would have been. While the English side may be better individually, they're not yet firing on all cylinders.
Teddy Lucic (L) from Sweden and Wayne Rooney (R) from England fight for the ball during the group B match of 2006 FIFA World Cup between Sweden and England in Cologne on Tuesday, 20 June, 2006. EPA/SRDJAN SUKI
Rooney isn't fit, Beckham is playing below par, and the 2-2 they managed against Sweden flattered them. The committed Swedes are a much more unpleasant opponent.
This is true even if they have only one superstar in Ibrahimovic. He's the sort of striker who can always cause real trouble.
His problem at the moment, though, is that he's not fully fit, while at the back of his mind will be all the fuss going on at his club Juventus Turin, despite their being champions.
It was clear that he was being saved in the match against England so that he's ready for the one against Germany. Despite this, I'm sure we'll beat Sweden.
The World Cup euphoria sweeping Germany has got to our team, who are letting it lift them without getting careless or arrogant. In fact, it may well be a help that Costa Rica put two goals past us.
It means that our defence is playing with maximum concentration, playing a good tactical game just as the World Cup is getting going properly and there can be no more mistakes.
Who are favourites? Argentina and Spain have been convincing so far - technically brilliant and playing at the highest level.
They drive forward - something we're not used to seeing from the Spaniards, at least, with their emphasis usually more on the technical side of the game.
But Aragones has put together a wonderful young side who weren't fazed by the 1-0 lead which Tunisia took, and went on to take them apart in the end.
Brazil's fans can be reassured. The team's improving all the time because the superstars are getting going. Ronaldo, for instance, was much better in their second outing than in the first.
Brazil have used the group phase to get fully fit physically. Italy, too, still have plenty up their sleeves.
This World Cup is producing some very high-level play - as can be seen by the fact that no chance outsiders have established themselves like Cameroon did in 1990.
From this perspective, Asian and African football are the big losers. Let's hope that Ghana and South Korea still manage to progress. One thing is clear - the 2006 World Cup is tougher than ever for the so-called minnows.
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is a former German international and current chairman of Bayern Munich's board.
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