The Germans themselves seem rather more concerned, as England were, by the prospect of playing on a plastic pitch, and they have spent the last few days training on the similar artificial surface in Mainz. "It seems a big issue for Germany ... but the conditions will be the same for both teams. I think there is another reason for such talk. Before, teams of the level of England and Germany were not afraid of us, but now they are very apprehensive." The danger, in fact, may be that the expectation is too great, that there is almost a complacent belief, among fans at least, that Russia will rise to the occasion again. Full Article at Guardian Unlimited