Germany 3 England 6 (Berlin, May 14th, 1938)A match made infamous by the England players' Nazi salute during the pre-match national anthems.
Consequently, the thumping England dished out to their hosts over the 90 minutes that followed is often overlooked. Cliff Bastin, Jackie Robinson (2), Frank Broome, Stanley Matthews and Len Goulden were England’s scorers that day in what was the final meeting between the two countries prior to the outbreak of war 16 months later.
England 4 West Germany 2
(London, July 30th, 1966)
The 1966 World Cup final was the fifth meeting between England and West Germany since 1950. Having won the previous four, Alf Ramsey’s men were firm favourites to lift the Jules Rimet trophy and were almost winners inside 90 minutes before Wolfgang Weber took the match to extra-time. A Soviet linesman offered England a helping hand when he ruled Geoff Hurst’s header had crossed the line but there was no doubt over the West Ham striker’s hat-trick goal, which set the seal on a famous victory.
West Germany 1 England 1
(Turin, July 4th, 1990)
This World Cup semi-final encounter did not look like being a classic when the teams trudged in goalless at half-time. On the hour, Andreas Brehme’s free-kick was deflected off Paul Parker and over Peter Shilton for the opener. Gary Lineker equalised after 80 minutes before a goalless period of extra-time resulted in penalties. Lineker, Peter Beardsley and David Platt were all on target for England but misses by Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle booked West Germany’s passage to the final.
England 0 Germany 1
(London, October 7th, 2000)
A wet, dreary day for the final match at the old Wembley, and England’s players put on a performance to match the elements in a World Cup qualifier. Dietmar Hamann’s low free-kick beyond David Seaman secured the points and sealed the fate of England manager Kevin Keegan, who announced his resignation after the match.
Germany 1 England 5
(Munich, September 1st, 2001)
The pinnacle of Sven-Goran Eriksson’s time in charge. The World Cup qualifier erased the memory of defeat at Wembley 11 months earlier and was made possible by a superb hat-trick by Michael Owen. The visitors fell behind to a Carsten Jancker strike but Owen equalised and Steven Gerrard fired England 2-1 in front before the interval. Owen completed his treble within 21 minutes of the restart while Emile Heskey completed the rout.
England 1 Germany 2
(London, August 22nd, 2007)
England’s first defeat at the new Wembley. England took an early lead through Frank Lampard but the Germans bounced back courtesy of an error by Paul Robinson, who flapped at Bernd Schneider’s cross, allowing Kevin Kuranyi to level. Christian Pander marked his international debut with a thunderous winner.
Germany 1 England 2
(Berlin, November 19th, 2008)
The most recent meeting between the two sides when a John Terry header six minutes from time proved to be the winner. His fellow centre half on that day, Matthew Upson, scored the opener. What the pair would give for a goal apiece this weekend.
