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Theo Walcott is losing his battle to be fit for England’s friendly against Holland tonight after suffering a dead leg in training ahead of the Wembley clash.
The Arsenal forward had been due to win his 43rd cap against the Dutch after sitting out Saturday’s 3-2 victory against Germany in Berlin.
But with Walcott struggling to prove his fitness to England manager Roy Hodgson, Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana is set to start in place of the 26-year-old.
Hodgson had been planning to make as many as ten changes to his team from the Germany team, but it is understood that he will now retain Lallana, Chris Smalling and Danny Rose in his starting XI tonight.
With James Milner due to captain England for the first time, Smalling is expected to partner John Stones at centre-half.
Walcott’s absence is a blow to the former Southampton youngster, however, with Hodgson admitting on Monday that tonight’s game is the last chance for his players to impress in an England shirt before he names his Euro 2016 squad on May 12.
Show all 22 1 /22Germany vs England player ratings Germany vs England player ratings <b>Germany:</b> Manuel Neuer - 6 out of 10 Strong save from Alli to push the ball away from the advancing attackers. Given little to do in the first half, but called upon to deny Alli with an outstretched foot.
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Germany vs England player ratings Emre Can - 6 Booked for a cynical foul on Danny Welbeck as he tripped the England forward when nearing the area. Found himself deployed at right-back despite impressing for Liverpool in midfield, and his error allowed Welbeck to dispossess him and led to an England shot at goal.
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Germany vs England player ratings Antonio Rüdiger - 5 Struggled to cope with the England attack once his partner in crime has departed, which demonstrates the dependency that the German defence currently has on Mats Hummels.
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Germany vs England player ratings Mats Hummels - 6 Should have seen yellow for a high tackle around Welbeck’s neck, but instructed Rüdiger where to position himself. Edged the battle with Kane, but went off at half-time with the yong Jonathan Tah coming on in his place.
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Germany vs England player ratings Jonas Hector - 6 Crucial block prevented Henderson from having a clear shot on target after Can’s error.
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Germany vs England player ratings Sami Khedira - 6 Shocking pass almost allowed Alli to score following good work from Welbeck, but that didn’t stop him from dropping back to pick up the first ball from Neuer every time. Lovely chip allowed Gomez to head home for Germany’s second.
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Germany vs England player ratings Toni Kroos - 7 Intelligently spotted Butland in trouble and capitalised with a long-range effort that beat the goalkeeper at his near post. Passing was near-faultless, although one sloppy long-ball gave England the chance to counter.
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Germany vs England player ratings Thomas Muller - 6 Rather quiet throughout, which may have been due to his deeper role to accommodate Gomez.
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Germany vs England player ratings Mesut Özil - 5 Took up an advanced role in midfield but couldn’t have the impact he wanted as Dier marshalled him to perfection.
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Germany vs England player ratings Marco Reus -5 Kept at bay by an energetic English defence, with his pace not having an effect on matters.
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Germany vs England player ratings Mario Gomez - 7 Should have been celebrating the opener had the assistant referee not incorrectly flagged for offside, but got his goal after the break when he lost Cahill and powered a header past Forster.
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Germany vs England player ratings <b>England:</b> Jack Butland – 5 At fault for the opening goal when he tried to play on despite being injured. Decision cost his team, and would have normally expected to have saved Kroos’ effort. Could do nothing to stop Gomez’s effort, which was incorrectly ruled out for offside. Replaced by Fraser Forster after conceding the goal.
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Germany vs England player ratings Nathaniel Clyne - 8 Good block prevented Khedira having an early effort on goal. Flourished going forwards after the introduction of Lukas Podolski, and it was his cross that was expertly flicked in by Jamie Vardy to equalise. Performance keeps him ahead of Kyle Walker in the pecking order.
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Germany vs England player ratings Chris Smalling - 7 Recovered well after making a mistake that nearly allowed Gomez in shortly after half-time. Looked assured on the ball and benefitted from facing Gomez rather than livewire Muller.
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Germany vs England player ratings Gary Cahill - 6 Missed the target with a free header from a corner, and was at fault for losing Gomez for the second goal and barely jumping off the ground as the ball floated over his head. Didn’t do a lot to suggest he’ll keep John Stones out of the side for too much longer.
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Germany vs England player ratings Danny Rose - 7 Cross that led to Gomez’s goal came from his flank, but he didn’t receive as much cover from Welbeck as he would have liked. Coped very well on his international debut.
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Germany vs England player ratings Eric Dier - 8 Important block denied Gomez an effort from the edge of the area that arose from a German counter-attack. His first international goal will be one that remains in the memory bank for the rest of his life.
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Germany vs England player ratings Jordan Henderson - 6 Dangerous corner caused panic in the area and led to Kane’s goal. Looked disciplined and in control of the midfield trio, choosing when to surge forwards and when to sit back and join Dier.
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Germany vs England player ratings Dele Alli - 7 Denied by Neuer’s foot when the chance to equalise offered itself on a plate. Looked composed and of the level required to make the grade at international level. Guilty of blazing a simple chance to put England ahead over the crossbar with the goal gaping at his mercy.
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Germany vs England player ratings Adam Lallana - 6 Sliced an effort over the crossbar when the ball fell kindly to him on the edge of the box. Looked lively, although he didn’t have a big say on matters.
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Germany vs England player ratings Danny Welbeck - 5 Looked slightly off the pace compared to strike-partner Kane, though given this was his first England appearance in almost a year to the day, he can be forgiven. Replaced by Jamie Vardy with 20 minutes remaining.
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Germany vs England player ratings Harry Kane - 8 Starved of clear-cut chances in the first half as England failed to find the final product, but showed his talent with a Cruyff-turn inside the German area and hit the ball from under his feet beyond Neuer’s reach into the side of the goal to drag England back into the contest.
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