Late Dier decider hands defiant England spoils in Germany duel

While, Dele Alli illustrated his dangerous ability to breach Die Mannschaft’s defence with his pace and looked by far the Three Lions’ most threatening player of the first 45.

The Tottenham midfielder rifled a stinging shot toward number one Manuel Neuer and, though it sailed wide, later impressed by evading pressure from Kroos and Mesut Ozil, deceiving the duo with fancy footwork the pair would both be proud of.

Still, it was the home team that made the most effective inroads, as cult marksman Mario Gomez met a Can cross that cannoned off Gary Cahill, with Butland then forced to beat Mats Hummels to the subsequent set-piece, before Marco Reus collected, only to ping well wide.

Germany finally looked to have cracked England’s defensive code in the 26 minute though, as Gomez again popped up, the Turkey-based targetman receiving Sami Khedira’s crafty pass and placing the ball in the bottom corner. However, the striker’s celebrations were spoiled within seconds and German hopes dashed with the strike chalked off incorrectly offside.

Kroos control, Butland blues

England were unshaken by the breaching of their backline and continued to take the game to the hosts, as eager clubmates Alli and Harry Kane were instrumental in once again robbing German possession.

The Spurs striker managed to thread the ball to Welbeck despite a gaggle of Die Mannschaft attention, with the latter’s slip gifting a chance to Adam Lallana, though the Liverpool star could only lash over.

All the intent failed to pay off and Kroos, and Germany, familiarly proved far more clinical than their guests. The German playmaker pounced on the counter, after Butland blundered a clearance having seemingly strained and injured himself.

Sleek Kroos glided unchallenged through a rather open England midfield, appearing to notice the opposition stopper’s struggles before taking a potshot from distance that coolly nestled low in the left corner to give the Germans a 1-0 lead.

Fraser Forster was called on as Butland exited on a stretcher, and England found themselves under pressure from Joachim Low’s lads, as Reus romped into the area, picking out Gomez, who could have converted if not for a brave block by debutant Danny Rose.

Alli’s defiant display

Goal gobbler Thomas Muller forced Forster into a quick save after the interim, as Germany attempted to keep momentum, but it was clear England were angling for a counter-attack.

They got one as Alli, amazingly looking like England’s most accomplished outfield player, surged forward yet again, not at all phased by the thought of challenging the mighty Neuer from distance.

Though it was hard-working Welbeck, who strove more than Can to keep the ball in, that fed onrushing Henderson for the Three Lions’ clearest foray forward, but the Reds dynamo saw his effort deflected by Cologne left back Jonas Hector.

Gomez finally reaps rewards, Kane Cruyff-esque in starting comeback

It looked as though Roy Hodgson’s men would head home with a scoreline which failed to do them justice, as Gomez finally grabbed his goal after 67 minutes passed.

The towering forward got his head to a deftly chipped ball over the top from from Khedira and sank it simply past Forster, with Cahill and Nathaniel Clyne unable to rise high enough to thwart him.

Still, the Three Lions found the target themselves soon after, as classy Kane made a nuisance from himself at a haplessly cleared corner, seizing on the ball and making as if to race away, before completing his own interpretation of a Cruyff turn and slotting smoothly past Neuer and cheekily through the legs of Can. It was to be a turning point.

Vardy vision levels the field

The bountiful football continued in Berlin, as voracious super sub Vardy gave travelling fans something to truly sing about with a lethal 74th minute leveller.

Continuing his sparkling form for club Leicester City, the lightning forward flashed across the face of goal, expertly burying a backheel after Clyne and fellow sub Ross Barkley had combined swiftly down the right flank.

The fairytale then looked set to continue, as the ferocious Foxes forward fed an otherwise exemplary Alli and presented the youngster with an open goal and shot at the winner, but the young-gun uncharacteristically blazed toward the heavens – a wayward finish that will surely give him nightmares.

Alli was not to fear, however, as Tottenham midfield partner and unlikely goal hero Dier sprang from a late corner to crack a buller header past a stunned German defence, saving the day with his first international goal and handing the Three Lions fledglings a memorable win over the world champions.

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