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:
Germany 0-0 England
18 mins: England are starting to show some signs of control. They’re passing the ball around confidently and don’t seem too concerned about giving it away with risky passes that could potentially lead to chances.
Harry Kane is moving fluidly across the forward line. He’ll drop deep to feed in Bukayo Saka with a forward pass then switch with Sterling to bring the ball under control on the left wing, before moving into the middle as the focal point again.
Germany 0-0 England
15 mins: Jude Bellingham comes on to replace Kalvin Phillips. He plays his domestic football in Germany and gets a decent round of applause from both sets of fans.
Musiala cuts in from the left and tries to feed David Raum in on the overlap but Kyle Walker has him covered and guards the ball safely through to Jordan Pickford.
Germany 0-0 England
12 mins: Kalvin Phillips is down again. He’s had an injury ridden season for Leeds and looks in trouble here. He hobbled around off the ball and drops to the floor again.
Gareth Southgate’s going to make an early change here.
Germany 0-0 England
9 mins: Phillips lunges into a tackle on Nico Schlotterbeck who carries the ball into midfield. The German manages to release it before colliding with Phillips who goes turn with a seeming dead leg.
The ball comes to Harry Maguire who kicks it out of play so Phillips can get some treatment.
Germany 0-0 England
6 mins: Close! Kalvin Phillips bundles Thomas Muller off the ball and quickly passes it up to Harry Kane. He brings it towards the box beofre feeding in Raheem Sterling. Antonio Rudiger forces Sterling to the byline then blocks the cutback and knocks the ball out for a corner. Good move from England.
Germany 0-0 England
3 mins: Germany win the first corner of the game and have started on the front foot. The corner kick is swung into the box but Kyle Walker does well to defend it at the back post.
Kick off: Germany 0-0 England
England get the match started and boot the ball long giving away to Germany. Gareth Southgate has changed his formation to 4-2-3-1 for tonight’s match.
In the host’s first attack Jamal Musiala feeds the ball into the left side of the box where Kai Havertz runs onto it and strikes a low effort at Jordan Pickford who easily keeps it out.
Germany vs England
The players make their way out onto the pitch and the national anthems are sung. Kick off is up next...
Germany vs England
The teams head into the tunnel and are readying themselves ahead of kick. After tonight’s game their will only be four more games for England until the World Cup.
What will Gareth Southgate and his team learn about themselves tonight? Can England beat Germany in their own back yard?
Southgate praises Germany’s decision to take the knee
England boss Gareth Southgate has welcomed Germany’s decision to take the knee before the two teams meet in the Nations League in Munich tonight.
“We’re two nations with huge numbers of mixed heritage nationals and I think it’s an important sign for everybody, so we welcome that,” said Southgate.
“We are united in our beliefs.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies