England v Germany LIVE: Nations League result, final score and reaction as Three Lions draw thriller
England 3-3 Germany: Luke Shaw, Mason Mount and Harry Kane turned a 2-0 deficit at Wembley into a 3-2 lead before Germany equalised late on
England head to the World Cup buoyed by a rousing comeback against Germany but a late error by Nick Pope meant under-fire Gareth Southgate’s side had to make do with a 3-3 draw at the end of a frenetic second half.
Among the favourites to triumph in Qatar having reached the semi-finals four years ago and finished runners-up at last summer’s Euros, hope and optimism has seeped away in recent months. England were relegated from the Nations League top tier following Friday’s loss to Italy and pressure looked set to increase on Southgate, and Harry Maguire, after Ilkay Gundogan’s penalty and a stunning Kai Havertz strike.
But the hosts displayed the kind of resilience and ruthlessness their manager called for in the build-up in front of a sold-out Wembley crowd that did not turn on the group. Luke Shaw scored England’s first goal from open play in this Nations League campaign to bring hope, with substitute Mason Mount lashing home a leveller eight minutes after they had gone two goals behind.
Wembley was bouncing and the noise went up several notches when Harry Kane slammed home an 83rd-minute penalty following Nico Schlotterbeck’s foul on Jude Bellingham, but there was to be no return to winning ways. Havertz tapped in after back-up goalkeeper Pope spilled a Serge Gnabry shot, meaning England go to Qatar without a win in six but boosted by a much-needed show of skill and spirit.
Relive the action from Wembley as England take on Germany:
Half-time: England 0-0 Germany
45+2 mins: Goalless at the break. England have played better than they did against Italy last Friday and have earned a bit of joy on the counter-attack.
Raheem Sterling needs to be more clinical in front of goal and John Stones’ injury is a big loss but England have held their own in that first half.
It seems to be shaping up as one of those games where the winner will be decided by whichever team scores first.
England 0-0 Germany
45 mins: Chance! England’s best opportunities have all come from counter-attacks and this one is the same. Harry Kane is given the ball on the left and carries it up the pitch before slipping in Raheem Sterling.
Phil Foden is the option over on the right side but the pass is tricky and Sterling goes for goal instead, sending a low shot straight at Ter Stegen who easily keeps it out.
England 0-0 Germany
42 mins: Kimmich dummies a cross twice before attempting to pick out a team mate in the box and getting denied by a jumping Eric Dier.
The ball goes out for a throw in and when it’s whipped into the area Kyle Walker chests it into the safe hands of Nick Pope.
England 0-0 Germany
39 mins: England are playing in their red away kit this evening for some reason. These new kits have divided opinion since they were released but this one is by far the best.
There’s not a lot going on at the minute with the game taking a lull as half-time approaches.
England 0-0 Germany
36 mins: Yep. Stones manages to walk off the pitch which may mean that the injury isn’t as bad as initially thought but he’ll play no further part tonight.
Kyle Walker comes on in his place.
England 0-0 Germany
33 mins: Oh no. John Stones makes a run through midfield off the ball and pulls up as he gets alongisde Phil Foden. He immediately grabs his hamstring and goes to the deck.
Kyle Walker is summoned to get stripped and it looks as though Stones will have to be replaced.
England 0-0 Germany
30 mins: Jonas Hofmann brings the ball to the front edge of England’s box and slides it in behind Raheem Sterling who’s back for his defensive duties.
Thilo Kehrer comes along the outside of Sterling and runs into the winger before diving into the penalty area. There’s a tug of the shirt by Sterling but the referee isn’t interested in the potential penalty appeal.
England 0-0 Germany
27 mins: Save! Luke Shaw’s pass into the middle from the left wing is superb and he takes out three German defenders when sending the ball up to Raheem Sterling.
Sterling shifts it back onto his left foot to open up space to Thilo Kehrer’s right and he side-foots an effort at goal only for Marc-Andre ter Stegen to leap to his right and palm it away!
England come again though and it’s a lovely combination between Sterling and Phil Foden on the right side to get into the box. Harry Kane is waiting in the six-yard area but Foden’s square pass goes behind the England captain and Germany clear their lines!
England have come alive.
England 0-0 Germany
24 mins: Nearly! Jonas Hofman drives down the right side of the pitch and floats a lovely cross over to Jamal Musiala on the opposite side of the penalty area.
His first touch dinks the ball back to Ilkay Gundogan but Jude Bellingham tracks back brilliantly and nicks the ball away before Gundogan can shoot.
England 0-0 Germany
21 mins: Jude Bellingham receives the ball in midfield and shifts it away from Ilkay Gundogan before getting fouled by the German. England don’t spend long in possession though and Germany fly forward with Kimmich flicking the ball into the box.
Reece James wins it and knocks it down to John Stones who plays a blind pass to Nick Pope. There are white German shirts advancing on the England goalkeeper but Nick Pope manages to boot it away.
Risky play from the Three Lions.
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