Germans humble Boothroyd’s triers

DON’T be fooled by the scoreline. Don’t think this was a carbon copy of events in Dortmund last Wednesday, when England’s seniors played with style and were only beaten by a moment of brilliance.

Once again a single goal separated Germany and England, but the gulf in class was huge and Aidy Boothroyd won’t draw many positives from his first match as the Under 21s’ permanent boss.

This game was arranged by the FA so England’s young players could get a flavour of what awaits at the European Championship in Poland this June, the logic being that it makes no sense to run up easy wins against inferior opposition.

And there was nothing inferior about Germany, who secured their ticket to Poland with a perfect 10 wins from 10. They will take some stopping at the finals. With the midfield axis of Borussia Dortmund’s Matthias Ginter, Max Meyer of Schalke and Wolfsburg powerhouse Max Arnold — remember the name — controlling the tempo, Germany played the first 45 minutes almost exclusively in England’s half.

They were bigger, quicker and more aggressive, as epitomised by Davie Selke, the Red Bull Leipzig striker who dominated Jack Stephens and Alfie Mawson, and went close to scoring three times in the first 27 minutes.

By that point the hosts had the lead, Hoffenheim’s Nadiem Amiri fizzing a drive past Jordan Pickford.

Arnold almost made it 2-0 with a shot that thudded into the advertising hoardings and, after half-time, Germany stayed in charge. England at least managed to create two chances, but Tammy Abraham was stopped in his tracks and Stephens fluffed his effort from 12 yards.

England were beaten 3-2 in France last November, so now they have lost back-toback matches for the first time since June 2013. Boothroyd has much to consider. ENGLAND U21 (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Holgate, Mawson, Stephens, Chilwell; Chalobah, Baker; Gray (Loftus-Cheek 58min), Murphy, Winks (Swift 72); Abraham.