England v Germany Summary
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England pulled off a stunning 2-0 win over rivals Germany at a raucous Wembley Stadium to move into the quarter-finals of EURO 2020.
Gareth Southgate named a somewhat defensive starting eleven as they switched to three central defenders, but it proved a tactical masterstroke. While they rarely looked threatened at the back, it was the home side that carried the greater threat going forward as they scored two second half goals to win the game.
Marshalled by an impressive Harry Maguire in defence, England looked solid on the whole but even when the defence was breached, Germany found themselves up against an inspired Jordan Pickford.
In truth, there was little to choose between the two teams in the first half as chances were few and far between. England had some bright moments while Germany’s Kai Havertz and Timo Werner both drew Pickford into action.
The game continued in a similar vein in the second half as the tension grew amid the possibility of this match going to extra-time and potentially even a penalty shootout.
With 15 minutes remaining however, the deadlock was broken and it was a fine move that led to the goal. Raheem Sterling, Harry Kane and substitute Jack Grealish combined nicely as the ball was fed out to Luke Shaw on the left wing and he coolly picked out Sterling to slide the ball home and send the 45,000 fans into raptures.
Germany were sparked into action and they had a glorious chance to level as Thomas Muller found himself clean through on goal. With Pickford coming out to meet him, the veteran stroked his shot agonisingly wide and wasted their best chance of the game.
The decision to bring Grealish on though was proving inspired and it was the Aston Villa man who turned provider for the second goal to kill the game off. As he found himself in good space on the left, rather than shooting, he played a lovely cross to find Kane unmarked and the England captain finally got off the mark at EURO 2020.
It was just about the right result in a game which England had a greater degree of control in. Southgate’s men and the England fans understandably celebrated at the final whistle but the England boss will want his men to focus on their quarter-final tie.
They meet Ukraine on Saturday in Rome – their first and only match away from Wembley – and with momentum on their side, England will be extremely confident once again.
