Real late, late show
ENGLAND U21 3 GERMANY U21 2
HARRY WHO? Gareth Southgate’s Under- 21s twice came from behind to stun Germany last night – and they have still got Harry Kane to come.
Two goals in the space of three minutes late on turned this friendly on its head as England landed an important psychological blow ahead of the European Championships.
Man of the moment Kane might be gearing up for his fi rst start for the Three Lions’ senior side tonight – but the in- form Tottenham striker has been pencilled in for the Under- 21s this summer.
That bodes well for the chances of Southgate’s side, who pulled it back to 2- 2 against the old enemy with 11 minutes left thanks to a powerful fi nish by Nathan Redmond.
Skipper James WardProwse completed the impressive turnaround with the 82nd- minute winner, fi nding the corner from just inside the area .
Germany were able to display a strength in depth which saw them bring back into their side Liverpool midfi elder Emre Can, highly rated Schalke midfi elder Max Meyer and Barcelona goalkeeper Marc- Andre ter Stegen, against an England side with just three starters from Friday’s 1- 0 victory in the Czech Republic.
Their experience paid off early on as they took a 15th- minute lead when Christian Gunter crossed for Philipp Hofmann, who controlled the ball on the edge of the area and fi red past Jonathan Bond.
Danny Ings came close to an equaliser, forcing a fi ne save from Ter Stegen, who should have been beaten from the subsequent corner, only for Jesse Lingard to scuff his close- range shot straight at the keeper as he lay on the fl oor.
Lingard, below, atoned in perfect fashion moments later, putting England level after 34 minutes. The goal owed much to the work of Carl Jenkinson, whose determined run resulted in a low cross that was confi dently swept home by Lingard .
Can almost restored Germany’s lead before the break, but his longrange free- kick was well saved by Bond. Germany did get back in front fi ve minutes after the restart as Hofmann highlighted his predatory instincts in front of goal to go with his earlier, more spectacular effort.
Julian Korb sent over a cross that should have been dealt with by the England defence. Instead, the ball was allowed all the way through to the German forward, who applied a simple fi nish from fi ve yards .
England’s chances to level appeared increasingly sparse as substitutions broke up the rhythm, but they kept plugging away and got their rewards through Redmond and Ward- Prowse in a barnstorming fi nish.