Lukas Podolski scores stunning winner against England to end Germany career in style
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Updated 22/03/2017 at 22:18 GMT
International friendly, Signal Iduna Park - Germany 1 (Podolski 69') England 0
Germany's midfielder Lukas Podolski reacts after scoring during a friendly football match between Germany and England on March 22, 2017 in Dortmund, western Germany. It is Lukas Podolski's last match with the German team.
Image credit: AFP
Lukas Podolski struck the winner on his Germany swansong as England went down 1-0 in Gareth Southgate's first match since being installed as permanent manager.
The former Arsenal striker gave an emotional speech ahead of a friendly encounter that had the atmosphere of a testimonial - and Die Mannschaft's skipper for the night capped his big finale with a stunning strike 21 minutes from time in Dortmund.
It was harsh on the Three Lions who were the better side for long spells, with Adam Lallana hitting the post and Dele Alli wasting a gilt-edged chance for Southgate's experimental line-up.
The hosts fielded a youthful team but improved after the break and stole the victory when Podolski blasted home his 49th goal for his country on his 130th appearance. Only Lothar Matthaus (150) and Miroslav Klose (137) are ahead of the 31-year-old Galatasaray player on Germany's all-time list - and he was fittingly saluted by all sections of the crowd when he was substituted late on.
It was a first defeat in five overall for Southgate, but he will take some real positives from this showing as debutant Michael Keane impressed at the back while Alli and Lallana linked up well in a new system.
England will now turn their attention to the World Cup qualifier with Lithuania at Wembley on Sunday.
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England's Dele Alli in action with Germany's Joshua Kimmich
Image credit: Reuters
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Many observers were suggesting this was one of the weakest England sides in memory in the pre-match chatter - and yet, what are friendlies for if not to experiment? Blooding Keane made sense given the season he has had with Burnley, though you could argue that John Stones was the perfect fit for the new system too.
It was always going to have its teething issues, but Southgate insisted he wanted to get 'off the island' and enact new ideas. It just depends whether what he has learned is going to benefit England longer term, when it comes to tournament football. Positives in qualifying campaigns and friendlies have proven to be a false dawn in the past, but if Southgate continues to defy reputations it could bode well for him.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Adam Lallana (England). Full of energy and spark. Has arguably been England's best player in recent matches and linked up well in a fluid system in attack. Unlucky to hit the post and the Three Lions didn't look as dangerous once he departed.
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Germany's defender Joshua Kimmich (l) and England´s Adam Lallana vie during a friendly football match between Germany and England on March 22, 2017 in Dortmund, western Germany. It is Lukas Podolski's last match with the German team.
Image credit: AFP
PLAYER RATINGS
GERMANY: ter Stegen 7, Hector 6, Hummels 7, Rüdiger 6, Kimmich 7, Werner 6, Kroos 7, Brandt 6, Weigl 6, Podolski 7, Sané 7. Subs: Schurrle 6, Can 6, Muller 5, dy n/a.
ENGLAND: Hart 6; Keane 7, Smalling 7, Cahill 6; Walker 7, Dier 7, Livermore 6, Bertrand 6, Lallana 8, Alli 8, Vardy 7. Subs: Redmond 6, Rashford 5, Lingard 5, Shaw n/a, Ward-Prose n/a, Stones n/a.
KEY MOMENTS
7' - ENGLAND CHANCE! England work a clever low corner in from the left, but Keane blazes over with a thumping drive from the centre of the box. What a start to life in the England starting XI that would have been!
31' - OFF THE POST! Lallana surges into the penalty area from the left and flashes a low shot beyond Ter Stegen that rebounds back off the post.
42' - ENGLAND CHANCE! England win it deep in German territory once more and Vardy wastes little time teeing up Alli on the right of the area. The midfielder is clear on goal but fires shot too close to Ter Stegen. He should have scored.
48' - GERMANY CHANCE! Julian Brandt fizzes inches past the post from 20 yards after Hart had punched a left-wing corner into his path.
69' - GOAL! GERMANY 1-0 ENGLAND. Podolski picks up the ball 30 yards out and thumps a stunning left-foot drive into the top corner.
KEY STATS
- England have failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last eight games against Germany
- Germany have now gone 648 minutes without conceding an international goal.
- Podolski scored his 49th international goal on his 130th and final appearance with Germany's first shot on target vs England.
- Germany have lost just one of 19 games in which they’ve played in Dortmund, losing to Italy in the 2006 World Cup (W16 D2).
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