Five greatest England v Germany games in history ahead of friendly clash
Published:
Robbie Purves | March 24, 2016
England head to Berlin to face World Cup holders Germany, as Roy Hodgson’s men look to build upon their perfect qualifying campaign.
The fierce rivalry’s latest instalment will take place this Saturday and promises to be a fascinating indicator to whether there has been any real progress since the 2014 group stage exit.
England have only won three of the last 12 meetings between the nations, while in that period Germany have won two World Cups and the 1996 Euros.
As one of Europe’s great rivalries prepares to see another chapter written, we take a look at some of the best through the years…
Germany delight at Lampard’s disallowed goal (2010)
England’s World Cup ended in a mixture of humiliation and controversy as they were thrashed 4-1 by Germany in Bloemfontein.
Germany took the lead in the 20th minute after defenders Matthew Upson and John Terry were split apart and gifted marksman Miroslav Klose a chance. The striker latched onto a long goal-kick from Manuel Neuer and scored.
Lukas Podolski doubled Germany’s margin 12 minutes later, however England pulled one back as Upson headed in a Steven Gerrard cross.
A controversial moment occurred on the 39th minute as a long-range shot from Frank Lampard bounced off the crossbar and cleared the line by about two feet. Unfortunately for the English, it was not given. The ghost goal incident was a major factor in implementing new rules on goal-line technology.
Thomas Muller went on to score two in the second-half. His first from a rapid counter-attack and his second from an error by Gareth Barry. Coral has Muller 6/1 to be this year’s Euro top-scorer.
Mauling in Munich (2001)
In September 2001, Germany met England during the qualifying stages of the 2002 World Cup at Munich’s Olympiastadion. England thrashed the Germans 5-1 with all of the nation’s goals coming from Liverpool players.
Things looked bleak for the English as Rio Ferdinand and Sol Campbell allowed Carsten Jancker to bundle home Oliver Neuville’s header.
With 12 minutes on the clock, Oliver Kahn was caught horribly out of position from a testing David Beckham cross. The keeper flapped at thin air as Nick Barmby cushioned a header into the path of Michael Owen, who dispatched it into an Kahn-less net.
Germany missed glaring chances and deep into the first-half and England made them pay with an unstoppable 25-yard strike from Steven Gerrard on the stroke of half-time – his first for the country.
Just two minutes after the break, Owen was at it again, giving the Three Lions a two goal lead and neatly tucked a shot inside Kahn’s near post.
The forward was in deadly form and didn’t have to wait long for his hat-trick. Gerrard sent him scampering through with a fantastic ball.
Owen’s strike partner even got in on the act, Paul Scholes squared the ball into an empty German penalty area and Heskey used his strength to hold off a challenge and finished the scoring for the night.
The game massively improved the England squad morale and greatly increased the popularity of manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.
Gazza’s golden goal miss (1996)
Euro 96 was a repeat of the 1990 World Cup semi between Germany and England.
Tournament top-scorer Alan Shearer opened the scoring with a trademark header after just three minutes. However, Stefan Kuntz evened the score less than 15 minutes later and stayed that way after 90 minutes.
In extra-time, Paul Gascoigne came agonisingly close to scoring a golden goal but missed a cross from Shearer in front of an empty German goal. Darren Anderton hit the post and Kuntz had a goal disallowed for pushing.
Neither team was able to find a winning goal and so, the fate of the semi-final went to penalties.
The shootout started well for both sides, with all 10 penalties finding the back of the net. However, in the sixth round Gareth Southgate had his penalty saved, leaving Adreas Moller to score the winning kick.
To this day England have only won one of their eight penalty shootouts.
Tears of Italia ’90 (1990)
Goalless at half-time in the semi-final at Juventus’ home stadium. It was a tight affair, however, on the 60th minute Adreas Brehme’s shot deflected in off Paul Parker into his own net. Gary Lineker equalised with just 10 minutes to go and sent the game into extra-time.
Extra-time yielded more chances with Jurgen Klinsmann failing to convert twice and both sides hit the woodwork. David Platt also had a goal disallowed for offside.
The game went to penalties and West Germany came out on top, 4-3 from the spot.
Champions of the world (1966)
England’s greatest footballing triumph occurred in the famous 1966 World Cup final, which saw the nation lift their first, and to this day last, international trophy.
The run up to the tournament had been dominated by a hero called Pickles who found the missing Jules Rimet trophy in a bush. However, England would a emerge with a squad of heroes after securing the World Cup on home-soil.
London’s Wembley Stadium was the venue for the final, packed with 98,000 spectators. After 12 minutes Helmut Haller put West Germany in-front but the score was levelled by Geoff Hurst four minutes after.
Martin Peters put England in the lead in the 78th minute and looked set to claim their first World Cup when the referee awarded a free-kick to West Germany with a minute left on the clock. Wolfgang Weber finished from the launched ball forward.
The game went to extra-time and in the 98th minute Hurst struck again. His effort hit the crossbar and bounced down onto the line, without the convenience of goal-line technology, it was awarded.
England’s final strike was scored by Hurst again, the only player ever to hit three in a World Cup final.
The famous commentary from Kenneth Wolstenholme immortalised his achievement.
‘They think it’s all over … [Hurst scores] It is now!’
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