England 2 Germany 0. Round of 16. European Championship 2020.

England beat Germany 2-0 in the Round of 16 of the European Championship 2020, today at Wembley Stadium.

The first half was a tight affair, with England shading it. Germany had a earlier chance when Timo Werner missed a one on one with England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. England should have led on the verge of half time, but Kane’s bad first touch meant that he missed a sitter, after Raheem Sterling got on a bad back pass from Thomas Muller. England shaded the first half with the Kane sitter, and a slight edge in possession, despite the ultra defensive set-up of the team.

The first half was a poor affair, with both teams cancelling each other out.

Germany could have taken the lead in the 49th minute, but Pickford made a very good save from a Kai Havertz volley. Germany mostly dominated the first twenty minutes of the second half, but the Havertz volley, was the nearest chance.

The match changing substitution came with the introduction of creative midfielder, Jack Grealish came on for the energetic Bukayo Saka.

England’s first goal arrived in the 75th minute with a close range finish from Raheem Sterling from a Luke Shaw cross. Sterling started the move, Kane laid it on for Shaw who crossed it to Sterling. Sterling proving once again a goal scorer in a tight match.

England nearly gave up a chance, but Maguire fouled and got a yellow for a tackle on Kimmich. Muller’s free kick was blocked. Thomas Muller missing a one on one, in the 81st minute when he shot wide from the edge of the penalty area. This was a very poor miss for a player of his ability.

England sealed the match in the 86th minute from a move starting with a Shaw interception. Jack Grealish put in a low cross that was headed home by Kane from six yards out.

England defended for the rest, but Germany never looked like scoring. England are playing the winners of Sweden versus Ukraine in the quarter finals of the European Championship 2020.

England’s solid teamwork and taking their chances won the match for England. England have certainly not excited this tournament, and there is a feeling that they don’t pick their best individual players, but for me, that is a strength of this side.

England while not being an exciting team to watch have to considered to be one of the favourites for this tournament, with the combination of home advantage, solid defending and teamwork, and the ability to take chances, means that England look to be a team that is very capable of winning the tight matches that happen in tournament football.

Team line ups:

England.

3-4-3

Jordan Pickford.

Kyle Walker, Harry Maguire, John Stones,

Kieran Trippier, Kalvin Phillips, Declan Rice, Luke Shaw,

Bukayo Saka, Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling.

Substitutions: Jack Grealish for Saka 69th minute, Jordan Henderson for Rice 88th minute.

Germany.

3-4-3.

Manuel Neuer.

Mathias Ginter, Mats Hummels, Antonio Rudiger,

Joshua Kimmich, Toni Kroos, Leon Goretzka, Robin Gosens.

Kai Havertz, Thomas Muller, Timo Werner.

Substitutions: Serge Gnabry for Werner 69th minute, Leroy Sane for Gosens 88th minute, Emre Can for Ginter 88th minute, Jamal Musiala for Muller 90+2 minute.

(C). Ferdia O’Mahony 2021.

Linked Posts.

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Euro 2020. Predictions for 21st June 2021.

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Euro 2020. Predictions for 23rd June 2021.