England will face Germany for an eighth time at a major tournament finals on Tuesday – more than any other nation.
Germany were runners-up in the so-called group of death and will be looking to give England another heartbreak at Wembley once again, 25 years on from Gareth Southgate’s penalty miss in the Euro 96 semi-final.
And it doesn’t make good reading for England at major tournaments, either – the Three Lions have not knocked Germany out of a tournament since the 1966 World Cup final.
But ahead of their next chapter in a historic rivalry, here are seven iconic clashes from years gone by.
England 4-2 West Germany (AET) 1966 World Cup final
The finest hour of English football history came when Geoff Hurst netted the first and only hat-trick in a World Cup final. More than 32 million watched the game on TV, which is still a British record.
Martin Peters scored England’s other goal at Wembley as Alf Ramsey’s side won after extra-time, with Kenneth Wolstenholme famously crying: ‘Some people are on the pitch, they think it’s all over… it is now!’
West Germany 3-2 England (AET) 1970 World Cup quarter-final
England held a 2-0 lead on 50 minutes after goals from Alan Mullery and Martin Peters, but the Germans fought back in the Mexican city of Leon.
Franz Beckenbauer and Uwe Seeler scored to take the game into extra-time, when Gerd Muller completed the turnaround on 108 minutes.
Gordon Banks didn’t feature for the defending world champions due to an untimely bout of food poisoning. Peter Bonetti took his place in goal and did not produce his finest display.
West Germany 0-0 England 1982 World Cup group stage
A rare drab affair between the two rivals in Spain, as Ron Greenwood’s men failed to break down a stubborn Germany side at the Santiago Bernabeu.
This remains the only time Germany have kept a clean sheet against England at a major tournament.
West Germany 1-1 England (4-3 on pens) 1990 World Cup semi-final
It was penalty agony for England in Rome, after Gary Lineker cancelled out Andreas Brehme’s deflected free-kick to force extra-time.
Lineker, Peter Beardsley and David Platt scored England’s first three penalties but then Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle failed to convert their kicks, sending Bobby’s Robson’s team crashing out.
Germany 1-1 England (6-5 on pens) Euro 1996 semi-final
Six years after a teary night in Turin, history repeated itself with more semi-final heartache from the spot.
Alan Shearer opened the scoring at Wembley before Stefan Kuntz equalised. Paul Gascoigne’s iconic miss with the goal gaping sent England into another shootout, where a 25-year-old Gareth Southgate saw his effort saved in sudden death.
England 1-0 Germany Euro 2000 group stage
England beat Germany at a major tournament for the first time since 1966, but they still are yet to beat them in a knockout match.
Alan Shearer scored the only goal of the game for Kevin Keegan’s side in Belgium, but it ultimately meant little as England failed to qualify for the quarter-finals following defeats against Portugal and Romania.
Germany 4-1 England 2010 World Cup last 16
Controversy engulfed the most recent clash in South Africa after Frank Lampard’s ‘ghost goal’ that clearly bounced over the line.
England would have made it 2-2 had that stood, after Matthew Upson pulled one back following goals from Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski. Thomas Muller scored twice to wrap up victory and send Fabio Capello’s men out.
Source: Sportsmail
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