Die Mannschaft were on their way to Euro 2020 elimination on Wednesday before a late goal earned them a date with the Three Lions
Germany head coach Joachim Low, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and midfielder Joshua Kimmich are excited at the chance to take on England at Wembley in the last 16.
Die Mannschaft were on their way to Euro 2020 elimination on Wednesday as they trailed Hungary by a goal late in their Group F finale.
But Leon Goretzka’s 84th-minute equaliser earned Germany a 2-2 draw and a second-place finish in their group, clinching a spot in the round of 16 against the Three Lions.
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What was said?
On facing England at Wembley, Kimmich said: “Awesome. There is no better game. Whether it needed to be in the round of 16, I am not sure.
“We’ve seen three different games now, and we’ve definitely got room for improvement. We want to show that at Wembley.”
Low added: “It is an absolute highlight to play England at Wembley. We will be well prepared and will of course perform differently than today. I can promise that.”
“We are just relieved that we managed to qualify as group runners-up, of course that was a thriller of nerves,” said Neuer.
“That was a many-legged defensive chain that wanted to close everything down. England will be a completely different game. We want to go further – and Wembley suits us.”
A rivalry renewed
England and Germany are well acquainted at major international tournaments, having faced one another eight times at the World Cup and European Championships.
Those eight matches are the most England has played against any single opponent at the two tournaments.
8 – England will face Germany at a major tournament (World Cup/EUROs) for an eighth time – more than any other opponent for the Three Lions. England last eliminated the Germans in the knockout rounds of a major tournament in the 1966 World Cup final. Foes. #ENG #GER #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/3zPTDtp9dU
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 23, 2021
The last time England defeated Germany in the knockout rounds of a major tournament was at the 1966 World Cup final, when the Three Lions defeated West Germany 4-2.
The Germans have subsequently knocked England out of the 1970 World Cup, the 1990 World Cup, Euro 1996 and the 2010 World Cup.
The two sides will now face off again at Wembley on Tuesday.
Further reading
-
Germany Euro 2020 star Gosens was ‘almost a police officer’
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Grealish hoping to ‘follow in footsteps’ of Gascoigne & Rooney
