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  • Writer's pictureThe Season Ticket

Euro 2020 | Sterling and Kane fire England past Germany

England have beaten Germany 2-0 at Wembley Stadium in the last 16 of Euro 2020.

Raheem Sterling started and finished a fine team move to give the Three Lions the lead in the 75th minute in front of 45,000 fans London, before England captain Harry Kane doubled the hosts' lead with an 86th-minute header.

Gareth Southgate's side now advance to the quarter-finals where they will face Ukraine, who beat Sweden in Tuesday's other last 16 tie, in Rome.

Joachim Löw's Germany, who had not lost a competitive match at Wembley since the 1966 World Cup final, made a positive start.

Declan Rice was shown a yellow card for a cynical foul on Leon Goretzka just outside the England box, with Kai Havertz' resulting free kick striking the wall.

Sterling forced Manuel Neuer into a two-handed diving save with a curling effort from distance in the 16th minute, before Harry Maguire wastefully headed a Kieran Trippier set piece over the crossbar.

Timo Werner had a great chance to give Germany the lead in the 32nd minute when Havertz played his Chelsea teammate through on goal, but Jordan Pickford made an excellent save to deny Werner from 10 yards.

Kane should have opened the scoring in first half stoppage time after the ball deflected kindly into his path, but the Spurs striker's touch was heavy with the goal at his mercy, allowing Mats Hummels to make a crucial sliding challenge to clear the ball to safety.

The rivals went in scoreless at the interval, but Pickford made another vital save early in the second half from a stinging Havertz volley from 18 yards. Pickford showed great reflexes to tip the ferocious drive over the crossbar for a corner.

Southgate introduced Jack Grealish in place of Bukayo Saka as England searched for a spark of creativity, while his opposite number Löw brought on Serge Gnabry for Werner.

England took the lead in 75th minute with a brilliant team goal. Sterling cut in from the right and fed the ball to Kane on the edge of the German box. Kane laid the ball off to Grealish, who rolled in Luke Shaw down the left flank.

Shaw produced a pinpoint first time low cross, which Sterling met with a clinical side-footed finish from six yards to break the deadlock.

Germany responded strongly, with Maguire conceding a foul and receiving a yellow card for a clumsy foul on Joshua Kimmich just outside the England box.

The free kick came to nothing, but Germany veteran Thomas Muller squandered a glorious opportunity to draw the visitors level in the 81st minute.

Sterling was caught in possession, and Havertz broke at speed before threading the ball through to Muller, who was one-on-one against Pickford.

The Bayern Munich attacker took a touch to steady himself but dragged his low shot wide from 20 yards, letting a relieved Sterling and England off the hook.

His miss proved to be costly, with Grealish crossing for Kane to head home from eight yards five minutes later.

England march on to the last eight, but it's the end of an era for Germany, who will bid farewell to 2014 World Cup winning manager Löw.

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