International Match
at Wembley Stadium
England (0) 0
Germany (0) 0
Attendance 81,381
For more photos click HERE
Germany had won their last five games prior to tonight; including three home wins against against: Azerbaijan, Norway and the Czech Republic and two more on their travels v Northern Ireland and San Marino.
While England had previously won four in row, namely: a brace at home v. Slovenia and Slovakia and two away wins v. Malta and Lithuania, after losing 3-2 in a friendly game v France at the Stade de France.
But I'll have to settle for watching the highlights from that game on TV afterwards, given the logistics of reaching north west London from my north Midlands homestead in time for kick off, after finishing work. But Shirebrook Town are playing Campion FC at home in the North East Counties League Division One, the same night, so all's well that ends well.
Time moves on, but it is only right and proper to celebrate and commemorate the events of the past, both in a sporting and a far wider context, and to pay one's respects for those who have given their all in past conflicts.
And that was poignantly brought into a context sharp focus tonight, given that 'dem Germans' were in town, while also taking into account the current melting pot of i) uncertainty & risk taking or ii) opportunity & independence, that surrounds the current European political situation, depending on whichever side you have personally chosen to dress to.
Twenty three year old Eric Dier captained his national side for the first time tonight, leading out a side that was bereft of a good number of first picks, who had 'cried off', or as it's officially called: 'withdrawn from the squad'.
The consequence of so many players pulling out, was a pleasing performance, by an inexperienced squad, dictated by enforced inclusion of some new starters at this level, which was filled to the brim with positives. Not least the fact that Gareth Southgate obviously has his finger on the pulse as regards knowing the strength in depth of the pool of players who are coming through and available to him for selection when the need arises.
Commenting on the decision to give Dier the captain's armband, the England manager, taking charge of his thirteenth first team international said: "His approach to everything is very professional," the manager said of the 23-year-old. "He hardly ever misses a game and plays in an unselfish manner. I think that he can be even more of a leader than he currently is and I am hoping giving him this reward and responsibility will also bring even more out of him as well."
Of course, Southgate himself was known to have 'opted out' of a few games himself when he was still playing, so he'll understand more than most how modern football, and in particular modern international football, is a squad game.
The consequence of so many players pulling out, was a pleasing performance, by an inexperienced squad, dictated by enforced inclusion of some new starters at this level, which was filled to the brim with positives. Not least the fact that Gareth Southgate obviously has his finger on the pulse as regards knowing the strength in depth of the pool of players who are coming through and available to him for selection when the need arises.
Of course, Southgate himself was known to have 'opted out' of a few games himself when he was still playing, so he'll understand more than most how modern football, and in particular modern international football, is a squad game.
So how did the five players who were picking up there first international caps rate?
Ruben Loftus-Cheek, a 21-year-old who is currently on loan at Crystal Palace (who are managed by former England manager Roy Hodgson) from Chelsea, made his first start for England, playing in the central attacking role and picked up a lot of plaudits for his efforts and certainly won't have done his prospects of furthering his England career any time soon, no harm at all.
Jordan Pickford, the Everton keeper, would be my choice of man of the match (the majority went for Loftus-Cheek) as he excelled between the posts, having been forced into action as early as the first minute when he did well to clear an under-hit back pass from Harry Maguire and then midway through the first half, got down well to pull off a fine left-handed save to deny Werner, before Phil Jones headed Leroy Sane’s follow-up snapshot from the rebound, virtually off the line.
And ten minutes later the England keeper pulled off another save from the lively Werner, across to his right.
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| "Is that all you take away!?" |
Tammy Abraham, who is another Chelsea player out on loan to a Premier League side, this time Swansea City, went close during the opening exchanges of the game, when he was a whisker away from connecting with Jamie Vardy's cross and he also set up a good chance for the Leicester City striker, but though he proved to be a thorn in the side for Mats Hummels and Antonio Rudiger, to my way of thinking he was trying too hard to make an impression and was slightly naive with some of his attempted flicks, tricks and distribution of the ball in the final third.
He'll probably know himself, that in the final analysis, he could and should have kept things simpler and played safe, rather than squandering possession by being way too cavalier and flamboyant, but places for the World Cup squad are at a premium and you can't blame the player for wanting to stand out and make a good first impression.
He's obviously got the talent to succeed on the international stage, he just needs to harness it and reign himself in slightly and work that little bit harder at being a team player. Y'know the pack drill; be more boring like the regular players usually are in the qualifying games ;-)
The brickbats of those in the media who have rubbished Abraham and called him a flop, are both unwarranted and inaccurate, but we really shouldn't expect anything else from those kind of 'journalistic' sharks are always circling just under the surface of the water, waiting to drag their next victim down.
You can spot them a mile away, they're the ones walking around with a stonking hard on and a sick grin on their face whenever there is any kind of turmoil with the national football sides ranks.
Nobody wants or needs them, but they sure as hell need the England team.
He'll probably know himself, that in the final analysis, he could and should have kept things simpler and played safe, rather than squandering possession by being way too cavalier and flamboyant, but places for the World Cup squad are at a premium and you can't blame the player for wanting to stand out and make a good first impression.
The brickbats of those in the media who have rubbished Abraham and called him a flop, are both unwarranted and inaccurate, but we really shouldn't expect anything else from those kind of 'journalistic' sharks are always circling just under the surface of the water, waiting to drag their next victim down.
You can spot them a mile away, they're the ones walking around with a stonking hard on and a sick grin on their face whenever there is any kind of turmoil with the national football sides ranks.
Nobody wants or needs them, but they sure as hell need the England team.
Liverpool's Joe Gomez entered the fray on twenty six minutes to replace the injured Jones... and after a shaky introduction, his main contribution to the first half, was to take one for the team, when he earned himself a booking for chopping down Sane on the half way line, as the lively German, who had an outstanding game, looked to set the wheels in motion for one last attack just before the interval. Truth be told, Germany had the better of the first half and Sane was very much one of the main contributing factors to them enjoying the lions share of creativity going forward.
Jack Cork, only played for the final four minutes, when he replaced Jake Livermore, who was sitting on a yellow card, and as such it wouldn't be either fair or possible to run the rule over him ratings wise. But he has been pivotal to Burnley's great start to the current Premier League campaign and was a mainstay for the Under 21 team when Southgate managed them.
Jesse Lingard who already had six international caps prior to tonight, entered the fray at the same time as Cork, coming on in place of Vardy, who'd worked hard in the wide attacking role he'd filled in Southgate's experimental game plan and almost scored twice, and it was Lingard who went closest to breaking the deadlock for the hosts, right at the death, when he knocked the ball narrowly over the bar, after Maquire had directed Rashford's free kick back across the face of the visitors goal.
Mind you, if you think that the international team in this country is suffering from a bit of a lull, there are two nations whose teams are currently in a far worse predicament.
I'd imagine that Gareth Southgate will already have a fair idea of who the nucleus of his World Cup squad are, but on the evidence of tonight's showing, these forthcoming games could yet yield a few changes. Not every newcomer to the team is quite ready yet, but some obviously are... and I believe that in Southgate, the nation have a manager who isn't afraid to trust players who are knocking on the selection door and chomping a the bit.
I heard Mesut Ozil's name mentioned when the team's were announced and could have sworn blind that I saw him involved in a corner kick routine halfway through the first half, but to be frank, I'd expected him to be involved in a much more productive way than he actually was.
But possibly my limited football nous meant that I simply missed a sly, cunning and under the radar performance by the visitors number ten.
All in all, there were far more positives than negatives from an English perspective tonight.
I'm cautiously optimistic that things are heading in the right direction, particularly when you take into account the outstanding success of the development team ranks who are both under pinning and filtering through to the first team... and even though, when all is said and done, it was only a goalless draw in a friendly game, I actually enjoyed watching England tonight and I can honestly say that made a nice change, given the amount of times I have turned up in the not so distant past, out of a stubborn sense of loyalty and habit, rather than actually travelling in hope with any kind of expectation.
FT: England 0 v Germany 0
Sometimes it's worth all of the snarled up motorways, awkward logistics, time off work, using all of your leave days up, crap train services, sacrifices and expense... tonight was one to savour methinks.
Jack Cork, only played for the final four minutes, when he replaced Jake Livermore, who was sitting on a yellow card, and as such it wouldn't be either fair or possible to run the rule over him ratings wise. But he has been pivotal to Burnley's great start to the current Premier League campaign and was a mainstay for the Under 21 team when Southgate managed them.
Following Tuesday night's game at Wembley against the Brazilians, there are, apparently, two more friendly fixtures pencilled in for March, against Holland and Italy.
I'd imagine that Gareth Southgate will already have a fair idea of who the nucleus of his World Cup squad are, but on the evidence of tonight's showing, these forthcoming games could yet yield a few changes. Not every newcomer to the team is quite ready yet, but some obviously are... and I believe that in Southgate, the nation have a manager who isn't afraid to trust players who are knocking on the selection door and chomping a the bit.
But possibly my limited football nous meant that I simply missed a sly, cunning and under the radar performance by the visitors number ten.
All in all, there were far more positives than negatives from an English perspective tonight.
FT: England 0 v Germany 0
