England v Germany LIVE: Nations League result, final score and reaction as Three Lions draw thriller
England 3-3 Germany: Luke Shaw, Mason Mount and Harry Kane turned a 2-0 deficit at Wembley into a 3-2 lead before Germany equalised late on
England head to the World Cup buoyed by a rousing comeback against Germany but a late error by Nick Pope meant under-fire Gareth Southgate’s side had to make do with a 3-3 draw at the end of a frenetic second half.
Among the favourites to triumph in Qatar having reached the semi-finals four years ago and finished runners-up at last summer’s Euros, hope and optimism has seeped away in recent months. England were relegated from the Nations League top tier following Friday’s loss to Italy and pressure looked set to increase on Southgate, and Harry Maguire, after Ilkay Gundogan’s penalty and a stunning Kai Havertz strike.
But the hosts displayed the kind of resilience and ruthlessness their manager called for in the build-up in front of a sold-out Wembley crowd that did not turn on the group. Luke Shaw scored England’s first goal from open play in this Nations League campaign to bring hope, with substitute Mason Mount lashing home a leveller eight minutes after they had gone two goals behind.
Wembley was bouncing and the noise went up several notches when Harry Kane slammed home an 83rd-minute penalty following Nico Schlotterbeck’s foul on Jude Bellingham, but there was to be no return to winning ways. Havertz tapped in after back-up goalkeeper Pope spilled a Serge Gnabry shot, meaning England go to Qatar without a win in six but boosted by a much-needed show of skill and spirit.
Relive the action from Wembley as England take on Germany:
England 3-2 Germany
85 mins: This game changed with the introduction of Mason Mount and Bukayo Saka. They’ve been forces of nature since coming on and have seemed solely focused on storming up the pitch. Well played Gareth Southgate, he’s got this decision spot on.
There’s five minutes to play, can England hold on?
GOAL! England 3-2 Germany (Kane, 82’)⚽️
82 mins: England lead!
Harry Kane drills the penalty into the top left-hand corner and Marc-Andre Ter Stegen has no chance of stopping that one.
Hige turnaround from England!
Penalty to England!
England 2-2 Germany
81 mins: After Kane’s chance the play is stopped as VAR is looking at the challenge which left Bellingham on the floor. It was Nico Schlotterbeck who lunged in late and landed on Bellingham’s shin.
The referee is called over to the monitor and he points to the spot!
England 2-2 Germany
80 mins: Chance! James gives the ball to Saka who flicks it into the box and finds Kane. Kane spins and shoots with his effort taking a deflection and landing in the side netting.
England 2-2 Germany
78 mins: Wembley is bouncing now as England are on the front foot. Bellingham makes use of James on the right once more but his cross is headed clear.
Bellingham goes down on the edge of the penalty area but England have the ball. They’re playing on and the youngster has no choice but to get back on his feet.
GOAL! England 2-2 Germany (Mount, 75’)⚽️
75 mins: Equaliser!
Declan Rice recovers the ball in midfield and sends it over to Reece James. He knocks it inside to Bukayo Saka who storms up the pitch and shifts inside of a defender before sliding it to the arriving Mason Mount.
Mount hits his effort first time from the front edge of the box and drills it straight at goal. It’s past Ter Stegen before he knows it and England are level!
What a goal!
GOAL! England 1-2 Germany (Shaw, 71’)⚽️
71 mins: Boom! Game on!
Jude Bellingham starts this move from inside his own half and shimmies past the German press to bring the ball into midfield. He gives it to Reece James who combines with Bukayo Saka on the right side of the final third. Saka knocks the ball back to James and his cross finds Luke Shaw arriving on the far side.
Shaw brings the ball under control and drills it low at Ter Stegen. The goalkeeper gets a touch on the ball but it bounces over the line and England have one back!
England 0-2 Germany
70 mins: Things a looking pretty bleak for England now. They trail by two and any attempts to catch up could leave them open to concede more. A heavy defeat is not what the team need right before the World Cup.
Mason Mount works his way down the left and comes alongside the box. He flicks one into the middle towards Kane but the England captain is beaten to the ball and Germany clear the danger.
GOAL! England 0-2 Germany (Havertz, 67’)⚽️
67 mins: 2-0! Great finish from Kai Havertz!
Harry Maguire looks to create something high up the pitch and loses possession leaving England wide open at the back. The Germans send it quickly up to Timo Werner who flies down the inside left channel before holding the ball up and picking out Havertz on the right side of the pitch.
Havertz takes a touch to set himself then curls a left-footed effort around Nick Pope and into the far corner of the goal!
England 0-1 Germany
64 mins: Gareth Southgate looks to shake things up and introduces Mason Mount and Bukayo Saka into proceedings. Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden are the two players who go off.
There’s still plenty of time for England to find an equaliser.
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