England v Germany: Five most iconic matches between the old rivals
England 1-1 Germany (5-6 on pens): Semi-final, Euro 1996
Heartbreak for hosts England as Gareth Southgate’s penalty in the sudden death shoot-out was comfortably saved by Andreas Kopke. A nation held its collective breath as Andreas Möller stepped up, looked at the referee, before unleashing a thumping drive beyond the despairing reach of David Seaman to send Germany to the final.
It all started so well at Wembley with Alan Shearer heading England into a third minute lead. But following a Stefan Kuntz equaliser on 16’ and a host of missed chances for the Three Lions, the game went to penalties and England crashed out. Thirty years of hurt would continue.
Germany 1-5 England: World Cup qualifier, 2001
England were drawn against Germany in the same qualifying group for the 2002 World Cup, but after losing 1-0 at Wembley – England’s final match at the old stadium – Sven Goran Eriksson’s team travelled to Munich’s Olympic Stadium needing a win to keep any hope of qualification alive.
An early goal from Germany’s Carsten Jancker after six minutes set nerves jangling, but Michael Owen’s magnificent hat-trick – his final goal symbolically coming on 66 minutes – as well as strikes from Liverpool teammates Steven Gerrard and Emile Heskey meant England left Germany just three points behind their old foes in Group 9 with a game in hand. It was a position from which they would eventually go on to qualify.
Germany 4-1 England: Round of 16, World Cup 2010
“It crossed the line ref!”
How many of us shouted at the TV after Frank Lampard’s looping effort clipped the bar and landed comfortably behind the stranded Manuel Neuer in the Germany goal? Unfortunately the only opinions that mattered were those of the referee and officials who ignored England's pleas and waved play on. Fabio Capello’s side were eventually thrashed as Germany eased to a 4-1 win.
In 2012, then-FIFA president Sepp Blatter told BBC Sport the incident was a key factor in the incarnation of VAR. "That [Lampard incident] was the moment for me to say, 'You can't afford for something similar to happen in the next World Cup'."
England 2-0 Germany: Round of 16, Euro 2020
England’s first knockout win against Germany in 55 years and first competitive victory over their bitter rivals since that famous 5-1 win in 2001.
With memories of 1996 flooding back, and with Gareth Southgate in the dugout, England produced a scintillating performance as Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane ran amok to send drinks flying around fanzones up and down the country.
It was the last time England faced Germany at Wembley.
England 4-2 Germany (aet): Final, World Cup 1966
“It crossed the line ref!”
Geoff Hurst’s memorable first-half goal in extra-time, with the ball bouncing off the underside of the bar and crossing the line behind ‘keeper Hans Tilkowski, is still disputed to this day in Germany but will forever rank among England’s most iconic moments.
The pause in play as Swiss referee Gottfried Dienst consulted his linesman Tofik Bakhramov before allowing the goal - his second of the game - was as dramatic as Hurst's final act.
With England now 3-2 up and the clock running down, Hurst received the ball and ran towards the Germany goal. Several fans ran onto the pitch thinking the game was over, and intending to thump his effort high into the crowd to waste time, the West Ham striker inadvertently hammered the ball into the roof of the net to seal his hat-trick and the Jules Rimet trophy in the most spectacular fashion.
Hurst remains the only player to have scored three goals in a World Cup final, but will anyone repeat the feat at Qatar 2022?
Geoff Hurst spoke to FIFA about the 1966 final and you can watch it here.
