England’s passion made up for their footballing shortcomings and led to a clear 2-0 win over a Germany that never showed the verve or faith to counter the energy of the hosts.
The England-Germany leave indelible marks in the subconscious of the countries. For Brexit England, the game against the Germans was little more than a matter of state. At Wembley, too.
The last time the two teams met in a European Championship was 25 years ago. The current English coach, Gareth Southgate, then missed the decisive shot in the penalty shootout.
Southgate and England took their revenge. The Germans, with a more polished and technical game, could never overcome the more than 40,000 throats that turned the duel into a high-voltage event, practically pre-pandemic.
And that the first ten minutes showed a plugged in Germany, wanting to live in the opposite field and Kroos and Goretzka slicing every England attempt to come out with the ball played.
The talented Havertz hid behind the backs of the English midfielders and every time he grabbed the ball from the front he sent chills down the Wembley stands.
Thus, thanks to the pressure in the midfield, the first opportunity came in Goretzka’s boots, which at times seemed to be all over the field.
Despite everything, both teams attacked with blank bullets. Prepared for a long battle, in view of the number of extensions that have been played in these round of 16 and perhaps remembering the last meeting in the European Championship of both, back in 1996, with victory of the Germans on penalties, England and Germany reserved forces.
A powerful shot from Sterling from distance, which Neuer smugly deflected, brought the English out of their lethargy. Riding the rambunctious Saka, who was already the best of his team in the last game against the Czech Republic, the English struck down their right flank.
Over there, the athletic Trippier was superior to the German Gosens, until now one of the revelations of the tournament.
With more push than play, and swept along by their tireless home crowd, England took command and threatened mostly through crosses from the flanks, which never connected with an unlucky Kane as they did throughout the tournament.
Half an hour later, with the game very balanced, it was Germany’s turn to have their big chance: again Havertz, from the midfielder, launched deep into his Chelsea teammate Timo Werner. But here, just like at his club this season, the small German striker failed to score either.
In front of a Germany that appeared somewhat hypotensive, the English let themselves be infected by the atmosphere of Wembley and the excitement of the public. Pickford or Maguire were lavish in fuss towards their teammates and the stands to keep their teammates hyperactive.
Tied 0-0 at halftime, the return to the locker room began in a similar way to the first half, with Germany dominating the position, but with problems to hurt the toned centrals of the “Three Lions”.
Havertz, the most inspired of the Teutonic attack, tried it with a good volley from inside the area after a rebound, but Pickford managed to deflect with the tips of his fingers.
Given the lack of occasions, the filmmakers of the transmission resorted to old tricks to warm up the spirits of the respectable. Cameras to David Beckham, who, wearing a smile on the giant screens at Wembley, provoked applause and the occasional boo. It never fails.
In the middle of nothing, England showed in the 75th minute why they had been among the favorites from the start. A ball well pivoted by Kane on the edge of the area fell at the feet of the recently entered Grealish, who seemed called to provide the magic that was missing in the game.
The midfielder of Aston Villa opened very well to Shaw’s entry on the wing, and the pass of death turned it into a goal, who else, Sterling, the only Englishman who had seen the door in the entire European Championship (three goals with him ).
Then Germany wanted to react, punished for their passivity in the game, and immediately had a good free kick on the edge of the area for a tackle on Kimmich.
But his big break came soon after. A fantastic pass from Havertz for Müller’s run looked like the inevitable draw. The Bayern Munich striker, who if he has done anything in his career is score goals, sent his shot wide, only against the goalkeeper.
Pardoned England, Grealish appeared again to enable from inside the area, in a move similar to that of the first goal, to a Kane who was finally making his debut in the European Championship. The «Three Lions» thus sentenced their pass to the quarterfinals, where the winner of Denmark-Czech Republic awaits.
Sad goodbye on the German bench for the coach Joachim Löw, already answered by a large part of the German fans after he led them to successes such as the 2014 World Cup.
– Data sheet:
2 – England: Pickford; Walker, Maguire, Stones; Trippier, Philips, Rice (Henderson, d.88), Shaw; Saka (Grealish m.69), Kane, Sterling.
0 – Germany: Neuer; Ginter (Can, d.88), Hummels, Rüdiger; Kimmich, Kroos, Goretzka, Gosens (Sané, m.88); Havertz, Müller (Musiala, d.91) and Werner (Gnabry, d.69).
Goals: 1-0. Sterling, m. 75. 2-0. Kane, m. 86.
Referee: Danny Mekkelie (HOL). He admonished Rice (m.8), Philips (m.45), Maguire (m.77) by England and Ginter (m.25) and Gosens (m.72) by Germany
Incidents: Match corresponding to the round of 16 of the European Championship played at Wembley Stadium (London) before 41,973 spectators. EFE