Germany vs England LIVE: Nations League result, final score and reaction tonight
Follow all the action from Munich as the Three Lions look to bounce back from defeat to Hungary
England get away with one, but also get a lot to think about.
Harry Kane scored his 50th international goal with a contentious late penalty, to secure a 1-1 draw against Germany that Gareth Southgate’s side probably didn’t deserve. The mixed feelings were further emphasised by the context. This was undeniably a good result, from a middling performance, that also represents the first time that England have failed to win two consecutive games since June 2019.
That stat shows how far they’ve come, but maybe reminds there is also a bit to go. It was not a quirk that they failed to win this game, for all the caveats of a Nations League game.
The most notable aspect of the match was how Germany looked like they would play this way regardless of the fixture.
Hansi Flick has given them a new identity, that is itself so easy to see. It is something England still lack, and does raise more questions about what next for the summer. It is not all Southgate is missing, mind.
His side also lack the kind of notional holding midfielder that can play the sort of through ball Joshua Kimmich did in the 50th minute of this match, so divinely setting up Jonas Hofmann for his third international goal.
England did rally, though, which is to their credit.
Follow all the match reaction from Munich below:
England arrive at the Allianz Arena
England have arrived at tonight’s venue and are checking out the pitch. Team news should come out soon, we are just under an hour away from kick off.
Gundogan on facing England
Germany midfielder, İlkay Gündoğan, who plays his domestic football for Manchester Cuty spoke about the relationship between his country and England saying:
“The relationship between Germany and England’s internationals is really good. It is shaped by friendship and respect, but of course there is room for a bit of banter.”
Gareth Southgate concedes racist abuse continues to impact England
As Gareth Southgate left the England camp for the final time at the end of Euro 2020, a rather difficult question entered his head. The manager had been reflecting on the racial abuse that Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka and Jadon Sancho had suffered after missing penalties in the final.
“When I left the Grove that day, I couldn’t help but feel ‘have I created this situation here for the boys?’”
It is obviously a hugely unfair burden to place on himself, since his job dictates that he give players professional responsibility. But it also points to the increasing complexities that come with being England manager, and to how the outside world influences what happens on the pitch. The match on Tuesday against Germany in the Nations League has only put these complexities in sharper focus.
Gareth Southgate concedes racist abuse continues to impact England
A trio of England players were subjected to racist abuse after missing penalties in the Euro 2020 final
Germany yet to lose at home under Flick
Hansi Flick has won his first four home matches as manager of the German national team by an aggregate score of 19-1. The only German manager to win his first five home games in charge was Berti Vogts between 1990 and 1992, winning his first six.
Tonight’s venue
This evening’s Nations League clash between Germany and England will be played at the Allianz Arena in Munich, home to Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.
Back-to-back defeats?
England lost 1-0 to Hungary last Saturday in what was their first defeat against them since 1962.
England haven’t lost consecutive games since a run of three against Croatia, Belgium and Spain between July and September 2018, the first two of which were at the World Cup.
They haven’t lost consecutive matches outside of the World Cup or European Championships since November 2013 against Chile and Germany.
Who’s on the plane, who’s in contention and who has work to do?
England will be aiming to go one better than last year and win their first major international tournament in 56 years at the World Cup in Qatar.
Gareth Southgate’s side will play the United States, Iran and the winner of Sunday’s play-off between Wales and Ukraine in the group stages.
This month’s Nations League fixtures against Hungary, Germany and Italy provide Southgate with a valuable opportunity to assess his options ahead of the tournament, which begins in November.
It is yet to be confirmed whether squad sizes will be expanded to 26 players, up from the usual 23, but in line with last summer’s European Championship.
Here, The Independent takes a look at who could be included in Southgate’s final selection:
England World Cup 2022 squad: Who’s on the plane and who has work to do?
Who will be part of Gareth Southgate’s final squad for Qatar?
Germany vs England - predicted line ups and score
Our prediction for tonight’s game is that Germany inflict a second straight defeat on Gareth Southgate’s side. Germany 3-1 England.
Here’s how we see the teams lining up:
GER XI- Neuer, Kehrer, Sule, Rudiger, Raum, Kimmich, Gundogan, Gnabry, Muller, Musiala, Havertz
ENG XI - Pickford, Walker, Stones, Maguire, James, Rice, Phillips, Trippier, Saka, Kane, Sterling
Is Germany vs England on TV tonight?
England and Germany renew their rivalry on Tuesday, with the match in Munich the second Nations League encounter of this year’s group stage for both.
Gareth Southgate’s team lost to Hungary in their opener, while Germany were held to a draw by Italy as Hansi Flick’s side made it 10 unbeaten since their Euro 2020 exit.
The match kicks off at 7:45pm BST on Tuesday 7th June and all England’s Nations League encounters will now be shown for free on Channel 4.
The game can also be streamed via the All 4 platform.
What is Trent Alexander-Arnold’s role for England? Is there one?
It might have summed up Trent Alexander-Arnold’s England career that, slightly unfortunately, a precocious young right-back was responsible for Hungary’s winner on Saturday. It might, except for one minor detail: he had gone off a few minutes before his replacement, Reece James, conceded the decisive penalty for his challenge on Zsolt Nagy.
For Alexander-Arnold, a 17th international appearance resembled many of the previous 16: inconclusive but underwhelming. A phenomenon for Liverpool remains an enigma for England, one of the great advertisements for Jurgen Klopp part of the case for the prosecution for Gareth Southgate. Vinicius Junior may have emerged unchecked behind Alexander-Arnold to score the winner in the Champions League final but it was entirely uncontroversial when he was named in the team of the tournament in the most prestigious club competition of all. Meanwhile, he seems England’s fourth-choice right-back.
Alexander-Arnold can bend, whip and curl a ball like few others. On Saturday, however, there a moment when he was caught flat-footed as Nagy met a cross, reviving the theory others have sounder defensive instincts, and a broader sense of time slipping away. It added to the significance of his substitution: England have five games to go before the World Cup but he has just three and Southgate had seen enough. Alexander-Arnold will leave the squad after Tuesday’s Nations League match in Munich; his marathon season may end on the bench there.
What is Trent Alexander-Arnold’s role for England? Is there one?
For the Liverpool standout, a 17th international appearance - against Hungary on Saturday - resembled many of the previous 16: inconclusive but underwhelming
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments