Views: 0
England will go into this year’s World Cup without a competitive win since November last year despite coming from behind in a dramatic 3-3 draw against Germany in their final UEFA Nations League match.
The Three Lions had already been relegated after losing at the San Siro on Friday night and looked to be heading for another demoralising defeat after Harry Maguire conceded a calamitous second-half penalty and Kai Havertz netted a screamer.
But three goals in 12 frantic minutes saw Gareth Southgate’s side pull off a remarkable comeback that will provide plenty of belief going into Qatar, even if their bubble was burst somewhat by Havertz’s late leveller.
Even before going behind, England looked considerably more dangerous against Germany than they did in the defeat to Italy, with the front three connecting on a more regular basis and creating several openings.
Southgate’s side ought to have taken the lead just before the half-hour mark when a brilliant pass in behind the defence from Luke Shaw – who was handed a start in place of Bukayo Saka – put Raheem Sterling through on goal.
The Chelsea star cut inside expertly but his tame, left-footed effort was easily pushed away by Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
That prompted a sudden surge in tempo and intent from England, with a clever through-ball from Sterling giving Phil Foden the opportunity to cross to Harry Kane for a tap-in, but his pass went behind the England skipper.
The Tottenham frontman played Sterling through on goal not long after but a heavy touch went out for a goal kick, while an even better through-ball shortly before half-time saw the rapid winger again denied by Ter Stegen.
Germany were retaining possession well though and on the stroke of half-time Joshua Kimmich had Nick Pope scrambling across his goal-line with a low, driven effort that flew inches past the post.
For all England’s attacking promise in the first half, they gifted the visitors a goal after the restart when the under-pressure Maguire passed straight to Jamal Musiala on the edge of the box before hacking down the youngster in the area.
The referee initially waved play on but he only needed to glance at the VAR monitor once to overturn his decision, with Ilkay Gundogan calmly and coolly rolling the ball into the bottom corner.
England initially responded well though and continued to probe on the counter, with Jude Bellingham twice set up on the edge of the box, but Germany were also looking more and more dangerous on the break particularly through pacey half-time substitute Timo Werner.
The game looked to have been put to bed in the 67th minute when Maguire lost possession high up the pitch and Germany broke forward; Havertz was given far too much space on the edge of the box and lined up a stunning, curling effort that found the top corner.
But England responded within minutes to net their first goal from open play in over nine hours, and it came from an unlikely source as Shaw collected a cross from the excellent Bellingham and managed to squeeze the ball under Ter Stegen and over the line.
Moments later the hosts produced a moment of genuine magic to level the scores, with Saka dancing through the German defence before setting up fellow substitute Mason Mount who produced a stunning first-time finish.
England were now pushing forward with renewed confidence and were rewarded with a penalty of their own – again via VAR after the referee missed a clear foul on Bellingham – and Kane fired an unstoppable effort into the top corner to put the hosts ahead for the first time in the contest.
But the joy was short-lived with Pope parrying a tame long-range effort straight into the path of Havertz, who tucked past the stranded goalkeeper in the 87th minute.
The Three Lions still had one last chance to snatch victory after a brilliant through-ball from Kane set Saka away, but the Arsenal starlet was denied by the fingertips of Ter Stegen.
Although England once again failed to win, Southgate will have seen plenty of encouraging signs from his side – and particularly a previously sterile attack that had been criticised so much recently – though there is plenty of work still to do ahead of the World Cup.