United Kingdom On the way to the quarter-finals- Germany Going home.
Gareth SouthgateNot only did the team book their place in the last eight games of the European Cup, but they also began to rewrite the narrative of one of football’s most enduring confrontations.
So it’s not just talk. Before this game brings the inevitable huge disappointment to those with the Three Lions on their jerseys, more words.
We are told that this is a generation unaffected by the past.
This “New” England team is a team without fear. The shirt no longer presses heavily on their shoulders.
It’s easy to say-but for those of us who have seen all this before, we need some persuasiveness.
So it comes from, first of all, Raheem Sterling then Harry Kane Make sure that the remaining four or five minutes turn Wembley into a holiday, not a cauldron of anxiety.
But this is a performance that is not just a goal scorer.
This is about Southgate’s game plan-he boldly decided to name Bucayo Saka in his starting XI to elevate the crowd and shock the Germans.
It’s about Jordan Pickford’s two big saves and a match with Thomas Muller, seeing the German legend pull one-on-one, and thus hit the chance of a comeback.
This is about Luke Shaw, getting rid of Mourinho’s latest onslaught and continuing on his own path of redemption.
It’s also about Jack Greerish-stepping off the bench and turning things around.
There are heroes everywhere on the English court-supporting them in important places makes many others eat their words.
This dismal performance now seems to be as irrelevant as all the old failures against Germany.
This is what England players have told us in the past week-but when the past keeps coming back to haunt you, it’s hard to expect.
This is Germany’s representative to Britain-only when the ghost rests, we can believe the message from the Three Lions.
After all, their manager was the loser of one of the most painful defeats caused by this particular opponent, and his way of championship football-especially penalty kicks-was shaped by his experience in the 96th European Cup.
This group of players is more likely to see Portugal as a perennial thorny thorn-but even the defeat of the back-to-back shootout at the turn of the millennium pales in comparison to the importance of heartbreak in the two semifinals. Germany.
Therefore, it is always fascinating to see how the new generation reacts when tightening.
This is an opportunity to break the myth and break the curse-not just against Germany, but in the main game in general.
It is not only Germany that shattered England’s dream. They get along very well.
So the theory is that England improved their game against better opponents. This may be true-but as the opposition progresses, they are always defeated.
Whether it is Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Croatia, the list continues. Especially in this special match, they defeated Spain in a penalty shootout, which was their only victory in the knockout stage before.
This is an opportunity to make history-just like they won their first match in the European Cup, they beat Croatia at the beginning of the match.
They are hardly big steps to overcome, but victory in this way is a huge leap for the country.
This is a game that is easy to follow the path of many other games, but this is a different England team-a team that has grown up in the game and is not discouraged even if its momentum weakens.
Saka brought a tentative start. He was the brightest spark among all the white players in the first half. His dribble made Germany notice his threat.
It also inspired Sterling to get involved, shaking around the edge of the penalty area and forcing Manuel Neuer to save.
This is one of a series of moves by the Manchester City striker to destroy the German formation.
Another game before the intermission provided Kane with the best halftime opportunity because the ball bounced six yards away from him. The striker should have fired for the first time, but chose to touch the ball, which was too heavy, allowing Mats Hummels to save the situation.
Germany could have opened the scoring early when Timo Werner broke, but was blocked by Pickford’s foot.
After the intermission, the England goalkeeper went all out to defeat Kai Havertz.
Southgate was accused of not reacting decisively enough at these moments. Not this time.
He responded to the crowd’s call to Greerich, he put a lot of energy in both goals, which turned the situation around.
The breakthrough occurred in the 75th minute and Sterling dribbled again to score.
He fired Kane, who transferred him to Gregory.
With blood flowing in his veins, he must have wanted to score a goal, but then passed the ball to Luke Shaw, and Sterling made it for the first time.
Germany should equalize after Mueller cleared the siege, but when Pickford stood high, he shot wide.
There is still time for Kane’s coronation. Greeley provided the perfect cross for the England captain, allowing him to go home and making Wembley ecstatic.
Almost going home, they shouted.
Maybe so. But not before stopping in Rome on Saturday.
