Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger says the World Cup hosts would prefer to avoid England in the first knockout round of the competition.

The old rivals will meet if one team tops their group while the other finishes second in theirs, setting up a clash that former Aston Villa midfielder Hitzlsperger would rather avoid.

He said: "If you compare England to us, I think we can safely say we are playing better.

"They are supposed to be one of the favourites, but have yet to play very well. We are at least on their level.

"If we did go head to head in the next round, it would be hard.

"I would prefer to avoid them because, on their day, they are very hard to beat.

"England have not been convincing yet, but they have many good individuals."