Euro redemption for Southgate as England beat German jinx
Gareth Southgate, Head Coach of England celebrates after victory in the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Round of 16 match between England and Germany at Wembley Stadium on June 29, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Frank Augstein - Pool/Getty Images)
LONDON, June 29, 2021 - England have rewritten the script. Football’s not coming home in the quarter-finals of Euro 2020. Instead, all their roads lead to Rome after a dramatic 2-0 victory over Germany at Wembley in the round of 16.
Saturday in the Stadio Olimpico will see captain Harry Kane will lead his Three Lions against a Ukraine playing in the quarter-finals of a major tournament for the first time. Ukraine beat Sweden 2-1 after the third tie in 24 hours to need extra time.
Some 40,000 fans were permitted into Wembley for the latest high-profile meeting in the England-Germany saga. This was double the cap imposed for the group stage by the UK’s health and governmental authorities.
Manager Gareth Southgate acknowledged the wider context of the Covid-19 pandemic after late goals from Raheem Sterling and Kane provided a first knockout victory over Germany since the 1966 World Cup Final. Victory should also finally lay the ghost of Southgate’s fatal penalty miss against the Germans at Euro 96.
Southgate said: “The players were immense and the fans in the stadium were also incredible. I’ve been here with a full house and I’ve not heard the noise levels of today.
“To be able to send them home feeling as they do tonight and know that so many millions at home, after such a difficult year, can have the happiness we’ve given them feels very special.”
Defeat for Germany, for whom Thomas Muller might have saved the day, marked the end of an era. Coach Joachim Low had already decided to step down this summer and successor Hansi Flick will need to rebuild without the likes of not only Muller but also Mats Hummels and probably Toni Kroos.
Germany made the sharper start in what was England's 300th match at Wembley. Leon Goretzka had one shot comfortably saved by goalkeeper Jordan Pickford who then made an excellent save from Germany’s Chelsea forward Timo Werner. The nearest England came in the first half was a shot from Sterling which drew a diving save from Manuel Neuer, Germany’s goalkeeper-captain.
The outcome hung in the balance midway through the second half, prompting both managers to try to break the deadlock with their substitutions.
England’s new midfielder, Jack Grealish, made all the difference. In the 75th minute he combined with Kane and Luke Shaw to provide Sterling his third goal of the finals. The goal was also Sterling's 17th for England, the same tally as David Beckham.
Five minutes later Germany should have been level. Sterling lost possession on halfway and Thomas Muller raced clear, only to shoot wide of not only goalkeeper Jordan Pickford but the right-hand post.
The Bayern Munich star's failure proved disastrous. Instead of being level, Germany conceded a second goal to Kane. Hence England take the road to Rome while Germany fly home.
England will be favourites against Ukraine who had to play a full two hours of a bruising clash with Sweden in Glasgow before winning with goals from Oleksandr Zinchenko in the first half and substitute Artem Dovbyk seconds before the end of stoppage time.
Saturday in the Stadio Olimpico will see captain Harry Kane will lead his Three Lions against a Ukraine playing in the quarter-finals of a major tournament for the first time. Ukraine beat Sweden 2-1 after the third tie in 24 hours to need extra time.
Some 40,000 fans were permitted into Wembley for the latest high-profile meeting in the England-Germany saga. This was double the cap imposed for the group stage by the UK’s health and governmental authorities.
Manager Gareth Southgate acknowledged the wider context of the Covid-19 pandemic after late goals from Raheem Sterling and Kane provided a first knockout victory over Germany since the 1966 World Cup Final. Victory should also finally lay the ghost of Southgate’s fatal penalty miss against the Germans at Euro 96.
Southgate said: “The players were immense and the fans in the stadium were also incredible. I’ve been here with a full house and I’ve not heard the noise levels of today.
“To be able to send them home feeling as they do tonight and know that so many millions at home, after such a difficult year, can have the happiness we’ve given them feels very special.”
Defeat for Germany, for whom Thomas Muller might have saved the day, marked the end of an era. Coach Joachim Low had already decided to step down this summer and successor Hansi Flick will need to rebuild without the likes of not only Muller but also Mats Hummels and probably Toni Kroos.
Germany made the sharper start in what was England's 300th match at Wembley. Leon Goretzka had one shot comfortably saved by goalkeeper Jordan Pickford who then made an excellent save from Germany’s Chelsea forward Timo Werner. The nearest England came in the first half was a shot from Sterling which drew a diving save from Manuel Neuer, Germany’s goalkeeper-captain.
The outcome hung in the balance midway through the second half, prompting both managers to try to break the deadlock with their substitutions.
England’s new midfielder, Jack Grealish, made all the difference. In the 75th minute he combined with Kane and Luke Shaw to provide Sterling his third goal of the finals. The goal was also Sterling's 17th for England, the same tally as David Beckham.
Five minutes later Germany should have been level. Sterling lost possession on halfway and Thomas Muller raced clear, only to shoot wide of not only goalkeeper Jordan Pickford but the right-hand post.
The Bayern Munich star's failure proved disastrous. Instead of being level, Germany conceded a second goal to Kane. Hence England take the road to Rome while Germany fly home.
England will be favourites against Ukraine who had to play a full two hours of a bruising clash with Sweden in Glasgow before winning with goals from Oleksandr Zinchenko in the first half and substitute Artem Dovbyk seconds before the end of stoppage time.
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