Jonas Hofmann goal not enough as Germany held by England
A superb Jonas Hofmann goal was not enough for Germany to take all three points in their UEFA Nations League meeting with England in Munich, the two sides sharing the points following a 1-1 draw.
Germany 1-1 England
Goals: 1-0Hofmann 50’ (assist: Kimmich), 1-1 Kane (pen. 88’)
Germany drew with Italy and England lost to Hungary in the teams’ respective opening League A Group 3 fixtures, so both began on the front foot as they sought to gain an early advantage. Kai Havertz set the tone early on with a powerful drive inside the first minute, while Kyle Walker cleared an Antonio Rüdiger header off the line just moments later. Indeed, Hansi Flick’s side had the better of the chances, with Jamal Musiala going within a whisker of connecting with a Jonas Hofmann cross from the right, while Hofmann himself had a goal disallowed for offside. England offered little threat in the final third, although Harry Kane could have opened the scoring when he found himself unmarked in the box following a corner, only to blaze over the bar.
Hofmann showed him how it was done early in the second half, collecting a devilishly disguised through-ball from Joshua Kimmich, before turning inside the box and lashing an effort past Jordan Pickford for his third senior international goal. Manuel Neuer was forced into action almost straight away as England sought an immediate response, the Bayern custodian clawing away a powerful Mason Mount drive from distance. Neuer also kept out Kane from point-blank range in the closing stages as Germany honed in on victory, but the England forward had the final say in the 88th minute when he converted from the penalty spot after being felled by Nico Schlotterbeck.
Match stats
Bellingham contributed six goals and 14 assists in all competitions for Dortmund in 2021/22.
Müller scored twice as Germany beat England 4-1 in the 2010 FIFA World Cup round of 16. Neuer is the only other surviving member of that squad.
Musiala was an England youth international, winning U21 caps as recently as November 2020, before pledging his allegiance to the Germany seniors.
Flick faced England for the first time as Germany coach. He masterminded wins over English Premier League clubs Tottenham Hotspur (3-1 and 7-2) and Chelsea (7-1 on agg.) en route to winning the 2019/20 UEFA Champions League with Bayern.
England-based Germany internationals Gündogan, Havertz and Werner previously made a combined 492 Bundesliga appearances.
Germany have now faced England six times in UEFA competition, winning two, drawing one and losing two.
England: Pickford - Trippier, Maguire, Stones, Walker - Rice, Phillips (Bellingham 14') - Mount (Grealish 73') - Sterling, Kane (c), Saka (Bowen 80') Unused subs: Pope, Ramsdale, James, Guehi, Coady, Ward-Prowse, Gallagher, Alexander-Arnold, Abraham Out: - Coach: Gareth Southgate
As it happened!
1 - 1
(0 - 0)
Germany
FINAL
England
UEFA European Championship Matchday 2 Matchday 2 Allianz Arena, Munich
90'
+ 4
SPOILS SHARED
It's all over and the teams take a point apiece after an evenly balanced affair in Munich. Germany took the lead through Jonas Hofmann's well-taken strike, but a late penalty from Harry Kane ensured the match ended all square. Germany's unbeaten start under Hansi Flick continues, although they are now third in Group 3, with Italy top on four points and Hungary second with three. England are bottom of the pile with one point.
The striker sends Neuer the wrong way and drills the ball low into the goalkeeper's bottom right-hand corner.
86'
PENALTY TO ENGLAND
After the referee checks his pitch-side monitor he awards a penalty to England for a foul by Schlotterbeck on Kane.
85'
KLOSTERMANN TO THE RESCUE
Bowen does well on England's right to wriggle free and cross, but Klostermann is alert to the danger and clears before the players rushing in behind him can tap the ball over the line.
The away side have been camped out in Germany's half for the last few minutes as they seek an equaliser. Will there be a decisive late goal here?
77'
BRILLIANT FROM NEUER!
Grealish tears away down the left and crosses to the back post, where Kane is arriving. He must score, but Neuer spreads himself big and makes an outstanding save to keep the England forward out.
A brilliant counter from Germany as Müller feeds Havertz, who charges forward down the middle before playing it into the path of Werner. He squeezes a shot away but Pickford again does well to keep it out.
Raum has time and space on the left to pick out a cross into the middle - and boy does he. He spies Müller unmarked at the back post but the Bayern forward's volley is well saved at the near post by Pickford.
69'
HAVERTZ ALMOST IN
Raum's low pass into the box from the left catches the England defence off guard, sending Havertz free on goal. It's just too strong for him though, and Pickford darts off his line before he can get a touch.
England almost reply straight away as Mount finds space just outside Germany's box and lets fly with a fierce drive, but Neuer watches it all the way and palms the ball clear.
50'
GERMANY LEAD!
There appears to be little danger on the cards as Germany stroke the ball around outside the England penalty box, especially as the visitors have eight outfield players back defending. However, Kimmich plays a brilliantly disguised pass into the feet of Hofmann, slicing through the England rearguard. The Borussia Mönchengladbach attacker turns and lashes an unstoppable shot into the net! Superb goal!
There's nothing separating the teams at the interval of what has been a thoroughly entertaining game so far. Hofmann had a goal disallowed and Germany have had the better chances, while England have only sporadically looked dangerous going forward. Let's see what the second half brings!
The Arsenal attacker cuts in from the right and bends a shot towards the far post. It has Neuer concerned enough to dive full stretch, but the Bayern custodian doesn't need to intervene as it zips wide of the upright.
45'
+ 1
ADDED TIME
We're into the first of eight added minutes of stoppage time, owing to the various stoppages for injuries.
45'
CHANCE FOR MUSIALA!
A Kimmich free-kick is only half-cleared and it eventually comes to Musiala, lurking on the edge of the box. He smashes a first-time volley at goal but it's straight at Pickford!
42'
RAUM CAUSING HAVOC
Raum's pace and movement is looking a useful outlet down Germany's left, and he's got the better of Walker a few times now over the last few minutes. This time his run and cross find Havertz, but he doesn't have an angle to shoot and has to wait for a teammate to catch up, and he's eventually crowded out.
37'
WIDE FROM HAVERTZ
Musiala threads a lovely ball between two England defenders for Raum to chase. The Hoffenheim man digs out a cross to the back post where Havertz rises highest, but his header is deflected just wide.
36'
HOFMANN ELUSIVE
The Gladbach midfielder gets behind England's backline again, this time to bring down a lofted pass from the left. His control is good but he can't quite match it with his attempted cross into the middle.
33'
STERLING DOWN
The Manchester City forward falls to the ground after a collision with Kimmich. It looks like a dead leg but he signals that he's going to soldier on for now.
30'
TREATMENT FOR TRIPPIER AND HOFMANN
Both players remain on the ground following a challenge and have treatment on the sidelines. They seem to be bruised but otherwise ok.
28'
HALF CHANCE FOR HAVERTZ
Musiala makes a mischief on the edge of the England box and feeds the ball to Müller, who chips a first-time cross into the box for Havertz. The Chelsea attacker manages to glance a header but it lacks the necessary power to beat Pickford.
27'
KANE BLAZES OVER
Neuer comes to collect a corner from the left but doesn't catch it under a challenge from an England attacker, and the ball falls to Kane at the back post. He snatches at his effort though, and skies it well over the bar.
23'
HOFMANN GOAL DISALLOWED
Raum punts the ball forward, Havertz rolls his marker and the ball run through for Hofmann, who bears down on England's goal unchallenged. He slots it away comfortably but the referee's assistant raises his flag for offside and it won't count.
19'
END TO END
We might not have had any clear-cut chances yet but the match is a gripping one, flowing from one end to the other as both teams look to get forward at pace whenever they get the ball.
16'
MUSIALA ALMOST IN!
Hofmann receives a throw-in on the right wing and immediately drills a low cross towards the near post. Musiala slides in but Pickford just gets there first!
The Dortmund midfielder is set to come on for Phillips, who is down on the turf again in some discomfort.
9'
PHILLIPS RECEIVING TREATMENT
The England midfielder is limping after being on the receiving end of a hefty challenge and he gets the magic sponge from the team's physio. He should be ok to continue though.
A lovely reverse pass from Kane releases Sterling into the left-hand side of the Germany box, behind Rüdiger. He tries to cross with his weaker left foot, but Rüdiger recovers well to block for a corner.
3'
WALKER OFF THE LINE!
Kimmich swings in a corner, Rüdiger flicks it to the back post towards Müller, who very nearly has a simple tap-in - but Walker gets there first to hook clear.
1'
FIRST CHANCE FOR GERMANY
With exactly 60 seconds on the clock, Havertz has the first shot of the game. Raum slides a pass into the left-hand side of the box after spotting Havertz's run and the Chelsea man lashes a fierce drive towards the front post, but Pickford saves well.
1'
HERE WE GO!
England, in an all-blue strip, get the ball rolling in Munich!
Kick-off!
ANTHEMS!
The national anthems of both countries have been sung at a sold-out Allianz Arena - it's now go time!
IN THE TUNNEL
The teams are lining up in the tunnel and about to take to the pitch. Not long to go now!
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Germany may traditionally be England's bogey team, but the Three Lions actually have the better record in face-to-face meetings. In addition to earning a 2-0 win at the European Championship last summer, England have come out on top in 17 of the 37 games to date, with Germany victorious in 13 (seven draws).
PRE-MATCH PITCH INSPECTION
The Allianz Arena turf ought to be familiar for the likes of Leroy Sane (2nd l), Jamal Musiala (c.) and Leon Goretzka (r.)...
The current UEFA Nations League campaign kicked off at the start of this month, although neither England nor Germany enjoyed the best of starts in League A Group 3. The Three Lions lost to Hungary in their opening encounter - a penalty from RB Leipzig midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai doing the job - while Germany drew 1-1 with reigning European champions Italy. This game, then, is one where it's imperative not to lose, even if you don't win.
Thank you for joining us for today's UEFA Nations League clash between Germany and England in Munich. We'll have all the pre-match build-up as well as live coverage of the main event later on!
