England is unburdened by the weight of agonising history: Germany has finally been beaten in a tournament again.
No need to endure more penalty heartache or disallowed goals this time.
Just like in the 1966 World Cup final, England triumphed over a German team at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday, winning 2-0 to reach the European Championship quarterfinals.
And just like in England’s two group wins, Raheem Sterling was on the scoresheet, breaking the tense deadlock in the 75th minute in a move he started and completed.
The round of 16 finally saw England net more than once at Euro 2020, and for Harry Kane to shed the pressure on his shoulders by finally scoring. The striker headed in Jack Grealish’s cross in the 86th minute.
“With all the expectation and pressure,” Kane said. “We delivered.”
It was England’s second-ever win in the knockout stage of the European Championship. The last came on penalties against Spain at Euro ’96 before the hosts were denied a place in the final by Germany in a shootout at Wembley.
It was on penalties that Germany also beat England in the 1990 World Cup semifinals. Then there was the English goal wrongfully disallowed as Germany knocked the English out of the 2010 World Cup.
Now England will play either Sweden or Ukraine in the Euro 2020 quarterfinals on Saturday in Rome, eying a return to Wembley for the semifinals and the final on July 11.
Harry Kane celebrates after scoring a goal during the Euro 2020 Round of 16 match between England and Germany at Wembley Stadium. (Photo by Ali Balikci/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
While Sterling’s goals are spearheading England’s progress at this largely-home tournament, the saves of Jordan Pickford are proving vital, too, including using one hand to push over Kai Havertz’s shot at the start of the second half.
“We had to be brave on and off the ball,” England defender Harry Maguire said. “It was really important.”
The clamour to introduce Grealish was growing in the second half. It’s what got fans chanting inside Wembley, with a crowd of about 40,000 the biggest since the pandemic began in March 2020.
The winger finally entered with about 20 minutes to go and played a role in the opening goal.
Sterling first took on the defenders, going past Antonio Rudiger before passing to Kane, whose layoff to Grealish then went to Luke Shaw. And it was the left back’s cross that Sterling connected with, shooting past Neuer with his right boot.
For all the experience in Germany’s side, it was World Cup winner Thomas Muller who squandered a chance to equalise in the 81st minute. With only Pickford to beat, Muller put the ball wide.
England has yet to concede in its four games at Euro 2020.
“It’s a moment none of us will ever forget,” said Kane, who scored his 35th international goal. “The perfect afternoon.”
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Guess who popped out of the woodwork to criticise Low , none other than Markus Babbell. Babbell great performer in front of the camera missed his A-league interviews.
Punter
Roar Rookie
This English side is the best since the 60s. Way better then the so called 'Golden Generation' of Lampard, Rio & Gerrard, there are more skillful players in this team then they were in the GG time. As for Socceroos, no-one is claiming world class. As for Euros, having Scotland, Austria, Wales Turkey, Nth Macedonia is better then having Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico, Cameroon, Japan, you having a laugh.
Big Red V
Guest
Doing what no other Socceroos team has done doe not make them world class and it is not the toughest tournament in the world, the Euros is. I think also we are overlooking the strength of the opposition. This is probably one of the strongest teams England has fielded in many years and they seem to play as a team that loves being together. Sure previous teams have had more "stars" but this is a better "team".
coolncold
Roar Rookie
When you have lock down the best thing to do is to watch Euro.
Kurt
Guest
Geez there are some bitter individuals here, being emotionally triggered by any positive news about England sporting teams. Watched the game at a pub in Manchester, absolutely brilliant. Yeah this current German team aren't great, but none of the surviving teams in the tournament have exactly set the world on fire (with the possible exception of Italy) so England are right to be optimistic. And yes of course the UK media have gone completely OTT, but this team and their manager come across as a very level-headed modest bunch so I don't think they'll buy into any of that nonsense.
Punter
Roar Rookie
That German side went on to be World cup semi finals, though it was at home & was deemed quite lucky. But this side just as bad.
Punter
Roar Rookie
They have some real quality attacking players at present in Fodden, Mount, Sancho, Rashford, Greenwood, Grealish, Alexander Arnold, Kane, Sterling. Quality.
Yoshi
Guest
A brilliant irony, the club team with quite possibly the best football training facility in the world is Burton Albion, third tier division one.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
...or booing at the other team's National Anthem like the English fans did for the German National Anthem at Wembly....and making fun of a crying little German girl, "nazis","tanks"-really embarrassing and disgusting. Makes you wish the poms get knocked out asap.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
If they win they will never let us forget they won
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Waz 100% agree
Waz
Roar Rookie
Mid, England make a good case study for Australia in how they’ve gone about developing a new style of play, developing coaches, facilities etc. we could learn a lot from them.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Yeah, I mean it’s not like we show that John Aloisi penalty every five minutes. Oh wait, WE DO :happy:
Waz
Roar Rookie
Honestly think if I just got one over my biggest rival I wouldn’t care how poor they were, I’d just rub it in their face lol. Anyway, after a good AL season the Euro’s are exceeding expectations as well :thumbup:
Caractacus
Guest
The heavyweight France who couldn’t beat Switzerland or Portugal who were well beaten by the worst German team in 30 years. You can only beat who’s in front of you, I wouldn’t take anyone for granted especially Denmark who were fantastic against Wales. It’s Belgium’s to lose for me but I remember Greece and Denmark winning so who knows.
Johan
Guest
andy- reading (as well as football) is obviously not a strength for you. You wrote a post at 12:51pm today implying that some in this country supported England not Australia. I have never said that I don’t support the Socceroos- merely that they are not, and have never been, a world class side and if they do well it can damage other Australian sports teams in terms of exposure, sponsorship and participation rates. England fans should doubtless be way more humble than German, anyone with knowledge of the game should accept that. However you don’t appear to display any respect for either the current English or German teams when the Socceroos aren’t even in the same ballpark as Europe’s top 10 national sides either currently or historically. After all the Socceroos failed to even qualify for the World Cup for a period of 32 years! Here endeth your lesson.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
To get to the final England will need beat Ukraine and then either Denmark or Czech, that's a very easy draw, given the other side has all the heavy weights like France, Italy, Belgium, Portugal and Spain. I wouldn't bet on England beating a strong Denmark or Czech, but they have the home advantage at Wembley so they just may make the Final. That's were it will end for England, beaten on home soil by a stronger Italy or Belgium or Spain.
Brian
Guest
Actually the worst German team in the last 30 years was in 2004. lucky 1-1 draw with Netherlands, then held 0-0 by Latvia, then faced by a Czech Rep B side as the Czech's had already topped the group however Germany stil lost 1-2 and were eliminated
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
stats show its the worst german team in decades lol. seriously if england dont win the tournament from here given how comfortable there run in is and the injuries of the other countries; there is something seriously wrong with them. im still expecting a massive choke by them lol
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
ahahhaha you're accusing fans of the australian national team of not being humble and realistic? when have they not been? lol its fans of england that have never been humble and realistic. nowhere did i mention austalia in any form of context, so im not sure why theyre still being brought up in a topic about the euros? stick to the other sports you mentioned in your post, because you've havent got any clue about what you're talking about. i gave you a response Troll-han, last you'll get from me :)