Germany down Netherlands, Bellingham rescues England
Germany continued their preparations for this summer’s Euro 2024 finals with a 2-1 win over the Netherlands on Tuesday and boost confidence they can challenge on home soil while Jude Bellingham’s last-gasp equaliser spared England a second successive Wembley defeat after defensive errors threatened to cost them dearly in the friendly against Belgium that ended in a 2-2 draw.
Fresh from an impressive 2-0 success in France on Saturday, the Germans sealed a fightback against the Dutch in Frankfurt with Niclas Fullkrug ’s 85thminute winner.
The Dutch led through Joey Veerman’s fourth-minute volley, before Maximilian Mittelstadt equalised seven minutes later.
Borussia Dortmund striker Fullkrug headed in late as Germany earned back-to-back wins for the first time under boss Julian Nagelsmann.
“The win does us a lot of good,” said Nagelsmann, whose team had not won in their previous three matches going into this international break.
“We played well, won possession and we adapted our game in terms of positions a bit.”
The Euro 2024 finals will begin on June 14 at the Allianz Arena in Munich when Germany play Scotland. The pair is joined in Group A by Hungary and Switzerland.
The Netherlands, who made several changes from their victory over Scotland last week, have been drawn in Group D alongside Poland, Austria and France.
England hold Belgium
At Wembley, Jude Bellingham’s last-gasp equaliser helped England hold Belgium 2-2.
Having lost at home to Brazil, Gareth Southgate’s reshuffled side were a mixed bag.
They showed promise up front but vulnerability at the back, which was punished ruthlessly by Belgium before Bellingham’s dramatic intervention seconds from time.
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made a rare error, his first to cost a goal in 60 international appearances, when his poor clearance led to Youri Tielemans putting Belgium ahead after 11 minutes.
Ivan Toney marked his first England start with the equaliser from the spot six minutes later, opening his international account after he had been brought down by veteran Jan Vertonghen.
Jarrod Bowen had a closerange header ruled out for offside, before another England error saw Belgium restore their lead nine minutes before the break.
Lewis Dunk’s mistake allowed Romelu Lukaku to provide the perfect cross for Tielemans to head in at the far post.
England, with 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo making an excellent first England start, had chances of their own with Bellingham twice off target when he should have done better and Phil Foden driving across the face of goal when well placed.
Belgium keeper Matz Sels saved well from Bowen before Bellingham made amends for his earlier misses when he drove home a low finish with virtually the last kick of the game to give England a deserved draw.
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