Euro 2020: England Beats Germany, Advances To Quarter-Finals
England reached the Euro 2020 quarter-finals with a 2-0 win against Germany after Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane scored late goals at Wembley. It was England’s first knockout victory against the old rivals since the 1966 World Cup final.
Gareth Southgate’s decision to play a five-man defence and two holding midfielders was a cautious one, but England started the game brightly. Sterling tested German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in the 16th minute, cutting in from the left flank and finding room to unleash a shot towards the far corner which the Germany keeper did well to save.
Germany, who were enjoying plenty of possession in midfield while England sat deep to defence provided a warning of their threat before halftime.Midfielder Kai Havertz found Timo Werner, and the striker tried to slip the ball through England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford’s legs, but the shot-stopper read the danger and made the save.
After the interval Germany sensed England had relaxed and went close when Havertz’s powerful drive was tipped over by Pickford. The Germans continued to press and create chances, forcing the Southgate into a change in the 69th minute.
Jack Grealish was brought on in place of Bukayo Saka to provide the much needed spark England had been missing. Six minutes after Grealish came on he was involved in a passing move which ended with left wing back Luke Shaw slipping the ball across the face of the German goal for Sterling to tap in his third goal in four Euro 2020 games.
Shortly after scoring, Sterling almost gifted the Germans an equaliser when he gave the ball away on the halfway line and Kai Havertz sent Thomas Mueller through on goal. Muller had only Pickford to beat but dragged his shot wide, leaving Sterling who watched in anguish on his knees, to leap to his feet in relief.
With the crowd roaring England on, Grealish was the provider for the second goal, crossing from the left for captain Kane to beat Neuer with a low header.
It was Kane’s first goal of the tournament sent the crowd of over 40,000 into wild celebrations. Kane’s return to scoring ways will be another positive for Southgate as he looks ahead at a potential route to the final.
“Any team will be looking at us and know that we’re dangerous. We want to go all the way so need to keep it up,” said Kane.
“There isn’t anything bigger than this when the expectation is on and we delivered so we should be proud but we can’t stop here. We have a vision of where we want to go and we can’t stop now. Hopefully we’ll be back here in the semi-finals and the final,” Kane added.
England will head into their quarter-final in Rome on Saturday against Ukraine, who beat Sweden 2-1 in Glasgow.
Euro 2020 results
England 2-0 Germany
Sweden 1-2 Ukraine
Chidi Nwoke/Reuters.
