Harry Maguire: ‘It means everything to beat Germany’
England defender Harry Maguire says he will not play down the achievement of beating Germany in the last-16 of Euro 2020, adding that ‘it means everything to beat them.’
Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane sent the English hearts soaring as the Three Lions beat Germany 2-0 to reach the UEFA EURO 2020 quarter-finals.
Sterling stabbed home from six yards in the 75th minute and Kane headed home four minutes from time to cue pandemonium.
Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate kept faith in Bukayo Saka after an excellent display against Czech Republic, making the 19-year-old the youngest England starter in a knockout fixture since 2004. The only change from the 1-0 win at Wembley saw Kieran Trippier replace Jack Grealish and a change of formation.
It was clear from a scrappy first 10 minutes what was at stake, with Declan Rice going into the book after bundling over Leon Goretzka just outside the box. Sterling had the first real effort, as he shimmied into a pocket of space and curled a long-range effort on target, sending Manuel Neuer flying to his left to make a save.
England began to turn the screw and from the resulting corner, Harry Maguire rose highest and his header found Neuer’s body. The visitors gradually gained a foothold and two Chelsea players combined, with Jordan Pickford smothering Timo Werner’s attempted lob from a Kai Havertz through ball.
The first half’s flashpoint came in injury time as Sterling broke into the box with purpose and the ball fell to Kane eight yards out, with the skipper only just unable to bring it under control. Pickford had to be at his razor-sharp best seconds after the interval, superbly pawing over a fizzing half-volley from Havertz on the edge of the box. The game hit a lull midway through the second half, with Grealish’s introduction on 69 minutes a turning point.
Sterling provided the spark and his surge into the final third led to Shaw sliding the ball across goal, with the Manchester City star poking past Neuer from close range for the opener. That made Sterling the first man since Gary Lineker in 1986 to score the first three goals for England at a major tournament.
Wembley took a sharp intake of breath when Thomas Muller surged on goal but his low shot whistled past Pickford and the left upright. Shaw’s attacking remit has seen him create five chances at the tournament, more than any other England player, and he was involved in the triumphant second goal.
The left wing-back won the ball in midfield and drove at the Germany defence, offloading to Grealish whose low cross was met by a thumping Kane header into the top right. It was England’s first knockout win over Germany since 1966.
England 2-0 Germany
Sterling (75), Kane (86)
