Youthful Three Lions Hold World Champions In Wembley Stalemate
Gareth Southgate’s experimental England side put in a credible performance to earn a 0-0 draw at the hands of Joachim Low’s reigning World Champions last night at Wembley Stadium.
Both Nations had their chances, but these were few and far between and, more importantly, not taken, leaving the visitors the most frustrated after having the better of the play.
However, the affair was far from being a true representation of how England and Germany are shaping up as both Managers rang the changes ahead of kick-off, starting with Southgate who opted for eight changes to the team that defeated Lithuania in their final World Cup Qualifier.
Coming into the side was debutant Jordan Pickford, Phil Jones, Danny Rose, fellow debutant Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Skipper Eric Dier, Jake Livermore, Jamie Vardy and young forward Tammy Abraham for a Senior Three Lions debut.
They replaced veteran keeper Joe Hart, Everton defender Michael Keane, Hammers left-back Aaron Cresswell, Jordan Henderson, Harry winks, Marcus Rashford, Dele Alli, and star man Harry Kane, many of whom were missing in the midst of an England injury crisis.
Meanwhile, Low had similar thoughts on what he should try out in the exhibition match, deciding on nine alterations to the team that thrashed Azerbaijan to the tune of 5-1 in their last outing.
The players that came into the starting Xl were Marc-Andre ter Stegen Matthias Ginter, Mats Hummels, Antonio Rudiger, Mesut Ozil, IIkay Gundogan, Marcel Halstenberg, Julian Draxler and Timo Werner.
They took the places of Bernd Leno, Julian Brandt, Niklas Sule, Shkodran Mustafi, Thomas Muller, Emre Can, Sandro Wagner, Lars Stindl and Leon Goretzka as the visitors’ most valuable stars were rested.
On the night that International Football paid tribute to the fallen at The National Stadium, there would be action from the very off as a misplaced pass from Harry Maguire put Pickford in trouble, but the young keeper dealt with danger.
Whilst, at the other end, Vardy raced free on the left side but just couldn’t pick Abraham out with his cross and as the ball found Kieran Trippier at the far post, he could only find the side netting.
With the game settling down after a frantic first few minutes, Leroy Sane went close with a volley and then even closer with a curling effort that struck the bar and somehow stayed out.
The Manchester City winger wouldn’t have believed his luck when he was kept from scoring for a third time on 22 minutes after Werner’s effort was saved by Pickford and Jones blocked well off the line from Sane’s rebound shot.
The Everton keeper would manage to make another superb stop to deny Werner again just before the break as he was played in one-on-one, there would be one final chance but this time for the home side before half-time as Abraham’s deflected effort floated agonisingly wide and Vardy was unable to chip Ter-Stegen shortly after.
The hosts would very much start in the second period in the same vein that they ended the first as Trippier picked out Vardy impressively and Ter-Stegen denied the Foxes forward yet again with a magnificent save.
Southgate’s men would continue to press as Dier’s dangerous delivery was well swept away by Hummels and Stegen managed to make another fine spot to deny Rose from a tight angle.
But, aside from those, second-half chances would be at a premium in a game of two halves that petered out into a goalless draw, in the end, somewhat lacking the usual feistiness England vs Germany Derby.
Both Nations had to settle for a share of the spoils and England will be hoping that they can go one better on Tuesday night when Brazil will be the visitors to Wembley in a Bobby Moore fund International.
Meanwhile, for The National Eleven next up is another friendly in the form of a home tie with France, The Derbies are coming thick and fast for Low’s men ahead of next summer.