Gareth Southgate got just what he wanted from England if the measure was spirit and desire but exactly what he did not need from hapless Harry Maguire and goalkeeper Nick Pope.
The manager was stretching the patience of England fans when he declared the dismal defeat in Italy as “a step in the right direction” – but his side demonstrated character and looked like a team fighting for themselves and their manager in the fluctuating 3-3 draw with Germany in their last game before the World Cup in Qatar.
England were two down and staring at a third straight loss before they summoned up not just their first goal from open play in 565 minutes courtesy of Luke Shaw but two more from substitute Mason Mount then Harry Kane’s penalty to put them in sight of a first win in six games.
Germany’s lead was, in the most part, down to Maguire after he clumsily fouled Jamal Musiala for Ilkay Gundogan’s penalty then lost possession and was out of position as the visitors’ counterattack concluded with a sumptuous Kai Havertz finish. [BBC]