World champions Germany welcomed the old enemy England to Berlin for an international friendly on Saturday night.
Both teams had chances in an open first 45 minutes, but it was Germany that entered the break with a one-goal lead courtesy of a 43rd-minute strike from Toni Kroos.
Germany doubled their lead just before the hour through Mario Gomez, but four minutes later, Harry Kane found the back of the home side's net for 2-1.
Jamie Vardy then came off the bench to make it 2-2 in the 74th minute, before Eric Dier won it in stoppage time as England put down a marker ahead of Euro 2016.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Evening all! Sports Mole's live international coverage continues from Berlin as Germany welcome England for a glamour friendly. There are no points or prizes on offer tonight as both teams build towards Euro 2016, but there is always something at stake when these two meet. Here's to an entertaining game!
HEAD2HEAD! Tonight will be the 30th time that these two countries have met in international football. Germany have 14 wins to their name, England 12, while there have also been three draws. England might have famously thumped Germany 5-1 in September 2001, but they have actually lost three of their last four games with the old enemy, including a 1-0 friendly defeat in November 2013.
Right, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the confirmed team news. Who do Joachim Low and Roy Hodgson want to have a look at from the start? Let's find out shall we...
TEAMS:
GER: Neuer; Can, Rudiger, Hummels, Hector; Kroos, Khedira; Muller, Ozil, Reus; Gomez
ENG: Butland; Clyne, Smalling, Cahill, Rose; Dier, Henderson, Alli; Lallana, Kane, Welbeck
Sami Khedira will skipper Germany tonight in the absence of Bastian Schweinsteiger, while it will be Mario Gomez at the tip of the attack. Toni Kroos, Thomas Muller and Mesut Ozil also all start for the world champions, while Liverpool's Emre Can will seemingly operate in the right-back position. The two new names in the squad - Kevin Trapp and Jonathan Tah - are both on the bench in Berlin.
As for England, there is a debut at left-back for Danny Rose and the 25-year-old is one of four Tottenham Hotspur players in the XI as Eric Dier, Delle Ali and Harry Kane are also named from the start. Jack Butland is given the gloves due to the absence of Joe Hart, while it is Adam Lallana and Danny Welbeck in the wide positions, with Kane operating as the out-and-out centre-forward. Cap-less Tom Heaton and Danny Drinkwater will both start on the bench for Hodgson's team tonight.
So there we have it. The two teams are in and we are now just over 40 minutes from kickoff on this mild evening in Berlin. I shall talk about England a little bit later, but let's start with Germany, who many are tipping for success at Euro 2016. Indeed, they will enter the competition as the world champions having become the first European team to lift the World Cup on South American soil in 2014.
Germany have only actually won three European Championships though and they went out in the group stages of both the 2000 and 2004 competitions. They reached the final in 2008, however, and were in the semi-finals in 2012. Low's side were expected to breeze their way through their qualification group for this summer's tournament, but they had a couple of blips in Group D.
Germany did manage to finish top of Group D and indeed qualify for Euro 2016, but they only finished one point above second-place Poland and lost two of their 10 matches. One of those defeats came away to Republic of Ireland and they will also enter this match off the back of a 2-0 defeat to France in their last international friendly in November. They might well have a point to prove tonight.
This summer, Germany will operate in Group C alongside Poland, Northern Ireland and Ukraine. It would be a surprise if they did not manage to top that section, but much will depend on their opening match against tricky Ukraine on June 12. As Spain found out in the last World Cup, there is no room for error and Germany will be all too aware of the pressure on their shoulders in France.
In terms of what is to come before Euro 2016 gets underway, Germany will face Italy in a friendly next Tuesday, before tackling Slovakia and Hungary in the final build-up to the tournament. On paper, there look to be stronger squads entering this summer's tournament, but Germany have so much know-how and experience that they are rightly considered to be one of the favourites.
No Schweinsteiger tonight for Germany, but the captain has been tweeting ahead of kickoff...
As for England, they also have pressure on their shoulders, with many tipping the Three Lions to enjoy a successful tournament. Hodgson's side incredibly won all 10 of their Group E games in qualifying and only conceded three times, scoring 31 goals in the process. They absolutely breezed through the section and also beat hosts France 2-0 in their last international friendly in November.
England have also actually only lost once since suffering a 2-1 defeat to Uruguay in the 2014 World Cup and that reverse came against Spain in a friendly in November. A disappointing last World Cup saw Hodgson's side fail to make it out of the group stages, but the last 12 months have seen a number of young players emerge and there is a feel-good factor ahead of the tournament.
The Three Lions have been drawn into Group B alongside Wales, Slovakia and Russia this summer and will open their tournament against an experienced and tricky Russia side on June 11. Somewhat surprisingly, England have never actually won a European Championship – with their best-ever showing in the competition coming on home soil in 1996, when they reached the semi-finals.
In 2000, they went out in the group stages, before reaching the quarter-finals in 2004 and 2012, either side of the 2008 edition, when they failed to qualify. In terms of what is ahead, England will face Turkey (May 22), Australia (May 27) and Portugal (June 2) before opening their campaign. Tonight will give Hodgson a good indication of how his squad is shaping up at the moment.
Just a reminder that two players key to Leicester City's title challenge - Jamie Vardy and Danny Drinkwater - are on the England bench tonight. It is perhaps a surprise that the likes of Lallana and Henderson have been preferred to those two players, but they will surely get a chance tonight. On the Germany bench in Berlin is the likes of Gotze, Draxler, Podolski, Volland and Bellarabi.
A reminder of the two teams that will start tonight's match...
GER: Neuer; Can, Rudiger, Hummels, Hector; Kroos, Khedira; Muller, Ozil, Reus; Gomez
ENG: Butland; Clyne, Smalling, Cahill, Rose; Dier, Henderson, Alli; Lallana, Kane, Welbeck
Here we go then - the national anthems are underway. It must be said that there is a wonderful atmosphere inside the stadium tonight. Germany came down the escalator into tunnel, but England were made to take the stairs. Of course! Cahill and Khedira are the two captains in Berlin tonight.
A period of reflection is underway to remember those that perished in the recent terrorist attack on Brussels. Black armbands are also being worn in respect to Johan Cruyff, who passed earlier this week.
KICKOFF! No points or prizes on offer tonight, but Germany against England simply cannot be called a friendly match. Right, it is the home team that kick things off in Berlin...
... early possession for Germany as Hummels and Khedira enjoy plenty of the ball in the opening two minutes in Berlin. You just get the feeling that both teams will want to have a look at each other for the opening 10, 15 minutes before committing too much forward. It might be a game of patience.
Kane has been the player looking to work something in the final third in the opening four minutes, while Lallana has also shown some nice touches in a wide position. Germany have an early chance as Khedira finds space just outside the England box, but the captain's strike is blocked behind.
Neither side has really gained control of the possession in the early moments as both concede the ball in forward positions. Pretty good start from England against the World Cup winners here.
Henderson seems to have been given licence to break forward for England and the Liverpool captain manages to win a corner with his forward running. The set piece is delivered by Henderson and Cahill's header hits Kane and the offside flag is raised. Cahill got up very, very well there!
England are crowding the space outside their own box at the moment and Germany are finding it difficult to break through. Roy Hodgson will be the happier of the two managers with this start.
Jonas Hector finds good space down the left for Germany, but his low cross is cleared by Dier, who is operating in a deep-lying midfield position for England. Hector delivers another cross moments later, but this time it is Cahill who clears. Germany are starting to see more of the possession now.
Can delivers into Gomez and the Germany captain gets up well, but Cahill does enough to clear it behind for a corner. That is the danger of having Gomez - he is very, very good in the air.
SAVE! Butland does well to palm clear under pressure from Hummels, before Reus fires wide of the post. Good spell of Germany pressure as they start to dictate the possession.
CHANCE! Cahill finds Alli with a super pass, but the Spurs midfielder heads into the arms of Neuer, who had made the decision to stand on his line. Might have done better there.
Possession football from Germany in the last couple of minutes as they look to take the momentum away from England, who have made a pretty good start to events in Berlin. England have another half-chance when Alli meets a bouncing ball outside the box, but his strike was always over the crossbar.
The long pass into Gomez is causing England's back four problems at the moment, but Rose is quick on the cover to head back to his own goalkeeper. Still goalless with 19 minutes on the clock.
Welbeck drives to the edge of the Germany box before laying a pass into Clyne, who looks for Lallana with a low cross, but it is just too strong and the home side survive a dangerous moment.
We are still waiting for the first clear chance of the match, but Germany continue to exploit the wide positions and it is Muller that goes up with Cahill this time around. England cannot get out...
... Alli has been England's star turn in the opening 25 minutes and the Spurs midfielder continues to look class in possession of the ball. Germany are now the team chasing possession at the moment.
Kane uses his power to drive clear of Rudiger and deliver a low cross into the box, but Hummels is on hand to make the clearance, before Rose has a strike blocked on the edge of the area. England look full of ideas in the final third, but Kane just cannot touch the ball into Welbeck's path.
GOAL DISALLOWED! Gomez has the ball in the back of the net for Germany, but the offside flag is raised. Clyne was playing him on there - bad call from the linesman!
Ambitious from Henderson as the Liverpool captain fires wide from distance.
Can is perhaps fortunate to escape a booking after fouling Alli in a wide position. Still no yellows in this match, but we must be getting close because there have been some tasty challenges here.
Kane does well to turn away from Hector and attempt to test Neuer, but the striker's effort was always moving away from goal. Still goalless, although Germany wrongly had a goal disallowed.
Little over 10 minutes of the first period remaining and England can be delighted with their performance thus far. Germany have shown bits and pieces in the final third, but England have been impressive both in and out of possession. This is good stuff from Hodgson's team in Berlin.
MATCH PIC!
Not an awful lot to report in terms of chances since Gomez had the ball in the back of the net for Germany, with both defences on top as we approach the final five minutes of the first period. Just a reminder that both managers are permitted to make six substitutions in this international friendly.
CHANCE! Welbeck has time to line up a strike inside the Germany box, but Can is across to make a fine challenge. It does fall for Lallana, but his effort flies over the crossbar!
BOOKING! Can (Germany) is booked for a late challenge on Welbeck.
Rose delivers the resulting free kick into the Germany box, but Hector is on hand to head clear. Rose again fires a low cross towards Kane, but this time Hummels hacks clear under pressure.
GOAL! Germany 1-0 England (Kroos)
Germany take the lead in the 43rd minute as Kroos finds the back of the net with a strike from distance. It beat Butland at his near post, but the goalkeeper looked to be carrying a knock!
Butland is actually going to be replaced here following that injury. What a bad few minutes!
ENGLAND SUB! Butland, who is distressed, goes off on a stretcher and Forster is brought on for the away team. That is so harsh on Butland, who might now be facing a period on the sidelines.
We are into the second of two additional minutes at the end of the first period.
England have been shaken by that goal and Rose is forced to get down and block a strike from Gomez, who had been found by Reus. The Three Lions really need the half-time break here.
HALF-TIME: Germany 1-0 England
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Germany leading 1-0 courtesy of a long-range strike from Kroos, which found a route past the injured Butland at his near post. Gomez has also had the ball in the back of the net for the hosts, but it was wrongly called offside. Despite the score, it has been an encouraging opening 45 minutes for England in Berlin.
STATS! Germany have had more of the possession with 66%, while they have had five attempts - just one of which (the goal) was on target. England, meanwhile, have hit the target with one of their eight attempts and that was a close-range Alli header. Just the one booking - Emre Can (Germany).
BENCH WATCH! Both managers have six permitted subs tonight and it is likely that all 12 will be made. Germany have options in the shape of Draxler, Gotze, Podolski, Schurrle and Volland, while the likes of Vardy, Barkley, Drinkwater and Sturridge will hope to feature for the visiting team.
MATCH PIC!
RESTART! Here we go then - both sets of players re-join us on the pitch for the second period. I shall bring you up-to-speed with any changes that might or might not have happened at the break...
... GERMANY SUB! Tah is on for his international debut in place of Hummels.
No England changes at the break, but they have already been forced into one alteration - Forster for Butland in the latter stages of the first period. What will the second 45 bring in Berlin!
Not too much to report in terms of chances in the early stages of the second period, but Germany are in control of the possession. You just get the feeling that this game could get away from England if they concede a quick-fire second. Germany do not need a second invitation here.
I suspect that Roy Hodgson will wait until the hour mark before considering changes and I would be really surprised if we did not see the likes of Vardy and Sturridge at some point tonight. As for Germany, they are on the front foot at the moment and Forster has to turn a Reus free kick over!
SAVE! Alli has a go from distance and Neuer has to get down and make the stop!
Alli is the player making things happening for England and the midfielder lifts a clever pass into Henderson, but Tah is on hand to make the clearance. Germany are on the attack moments later, but Muller can only flick into the grasp of Forster. End-to-end football with 54 minutes played.
CHANCE! Welbeck picks the pocket of Can and sets up Henderson inside the Germany box, but the midfielder's effort is blocked behind by Hector! Really should be 1-1 here!
GOAL! Germany 2-0 England (Gomez)
Germany score their second of the match as Gomez heads a super Khedira cross into the bottom corner. Cahill just could not rise high enough and it was a super header from the target man!
Another half-chance for the home side as Hector delivers a low cross into Ozil, but the Arsenal attacker can only scuff his effort into the arms of Forster. England need to be careful here.
GOAL! Germany 2-1 England (Kane)
England are back in business here as Kane produces a wonderful turn inside the Germany box before firing his effort into the bottom corner. That is excellent work from the Tottenham man!
I would be surprised if we had seen the last of the goals tonight as both teams continue to commit players in the final third. Still no second-half changes though, which is a surprise.
GERMANY SUB! Just as I say no changes - Schurrle replaces Reus for the hosts.
Ozil races clear down the left for the home side and it eventually finds Muller at the far post, but the Bayern Munich attacker cannot lift the pass back into Gomez. Still 2-1 Germany in Berlin.
England have a free kick in a very dangerous area as Tah brings Kane to the deck...
... Kane takes on the set piece, but he fires straight into the wall.
SAVE! Super stop from Neuer as the Germany goalkeeper keeps out a low strike from Alli after another excellent period of England play in the final third. Should have been 2-2!
ENGLAND SUBS! Vardy and Barkley replace Welbeck and Lallana for England.
Little over 15 minutes of this international friendly remaining and you sense that there are more goals in this match as it continues to open up. England have some searing pace up top now.
Kane twists away from two defenders and strikes from distance, but it was always curling wide.
GOAL! Germany 2-2 England (Vardy)
What a special goal that is! England are on terms here as Vardy flicks a Clyne cross into the bottom corner. It was some piece of skill from the Leicester striker and we are all square in Berlin!
GERMANY SUB! Podolski replaces Muller for the home team.
Little over 10 minutes of this international friendly remaining and it must be said that this has been a wonderful game of football. Germany are pressing forward with 78 minutes on the clock.
GERMANY SUB! Gotze replaces Gomez for the home team.
BOOKING! Dier (England) is booked for a late challenge on Can.
Kane looks full of beans at the moment as he continues to drive forward and put pressure on this German back four, which has not looked too secure since Hummels departed at the break.
CLOSE! Henderson swings one just wide of the German post!
CHANCE! Incredible chance for England to take the lead as Vardy nicks the ball inside the German box before setting up Alli, but his effort is somehow over the crossbar - wow!
England are looking the more likely to win this game at the moment as they continue to force the issue in the final third. Vardy has brought such freshness to the team and must be in line to start the Euro 2016 opener against Russia. He is causing this German back four so many problems here.
Germany look very leggy at the moment as they struggle to keep control of the ball in their own half. England, on the other hand, are really forcing the issue as they press for a third goal here.
Better from Germany in the last few minutes as they work the ball down the right, but Can cannot squeeze the ball past Smalling. I should think that there will be around three added minutes here.
We are into the first of three added minutes here.
GOAL! Germany 2-3 England (Dier)
Oh my word! England are ahead in the first minute of stoppage time as Dier heads a Henderson corner into the bottom corner! They have turned this game on its head in Berlin!
FULL-TIME: Germany 2-3 England
So there we have it! What a result! England come from two goals behind to beat Germany 3-2 in Berlin! Incredible second-half performance from the Three Lions, who have put down a marker ahead of Euro 2016. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action. Until next time!
