Germany Women vs England Women match report: Mark Sampson’s regulars remain strong to earn deserved draw

Germany Women 0 England Women 0

England’s Alex Greenwood (right) is challenged by Leonie Maier of Germany during yesterday’s friendly (Getty Images)

It was gritty rather than pretty, solid rather than spectacular, but England achieved their objective in the Ruhr last night. They came here intent on showing their shock victory in the World Cup against Germany was no fluke. Whilst they never looked like repeating that heady summer success, a doughty industrial performance befitting the location indicated England are now a team to be reckoned with, if not yet feared.

Only once did they carve Germany open, when Demi Stokes brought a decent save from debutant Laura Benkarth late in the first half. But though Karen Bardsley had to make several fine saves this was no backs-against-the-wall siege. England were well-organised and hard-working and a second successive clean sheet against Europe’s most powerful attack was no accident.

“I’m pleased with the performance,” said manager Mark Sampson. “We wanted to come here and put on a performance of authority. I thought the girls made a statement tonight. This time last year we were steam-rollered by Germany [3-0 at Wembley].”

“It took us 30 minutes to get used to the robust, high-pressing English team,” said the Germany coach Silvia Neid. “It was an eye-to-eye contest.”

With qualification for Euro 2017 a formality for both teams this was England’s most significant match since the third-place play-off between the teams in Edmonton and Sampson’s starting line-up represented his current best XI.

As such it was interesting that Gilly Flaherty, player of the season at Double-winners Chelsea, had displaced Laura Bassett at centre-half, and Stokes, another to miss out on Canada, had also made the cut. Stokes, now at Manchester City, was given a left-flank role in a 4-3-3 formation.

Six of this England team also started in Edmonton – Bardsley, Steph Houghton, Lucy Bronze, Jill Scott, Fara Williams and Alex Greenwood – and four of the Germans.

One of those was Simone Laudehr and she soon troubled Bronze as Germany targeted the space behind England’s attacking right-back. As the pressure continued Babett Peter headed a free-kick over and Anja Mittag shot wide before Felicitas Rauch darted inside Bronze but was denied at the near post by Bardsley.

England had at this stage been limited to long-range shots from Jordan Nobbs but five minutes before the break a Houghton ball reached Jodie Taylor. She squared to Nobbs who set up Stokes only for a shot Benkarth beat away.

Two minutes later Bardsley had to be just as alert to top over a Leonie Maier drive.Neid made four changes at the break but Sampson kept with his starting XI before adding fresh legs in the last quarter. The defence kept Germany to shots from range except for a lapse in the 76th minute that allowed Dzsenifer Marozsan a free header. Bardsley, though, had read it well and saved.

In the closing moments England even looked the more likely scorers with Greenwood and Scott threatening. They resume their Euro 2017 campaign, against Bosnia & Herzegovina at Bristol’s Ashton Gate on Sunday. It is their first home match since the World Cup and their heroines’ welcome will feel even more deserved.