England ends Germany’s curse and advances to the quarterfinals of Euro 2020

England advanced to the quarterfinals of the European Championship with a 2-0 win over Germany at Wembley on Tuesday, thanks to late goals from Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane.

After a victory that elicited tremendous applause from the home crowd, England will face Ukraine in the quarterfinals.

It was England’s first knockout stage victory over Germany since the 1966 World Cup final, as well as their first knockout round victory at the Euros in under 90 minutes.

When midfielder Jack Grealish was introduced in the 69th minute, the game’s intensity and tone shifted dramatically.

Grealish was part in a beautiful passing move six minutes after coming on, which culminated with left wing-back Luke Shaw slipping the ball across the face of goal for Sterling to sneak in his third goal in four Euro 2020 games.

However, immediately after scoring, Sterling lost the ball away on the halfway line, and Kai Havertz put Thomas Mueller through on goal, virtually bringing the game level.

With just England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford to beat, the seasoned World Cup champion pulled his effort wide of the right-hand post, causing Sterling, who was on his knees in agony, to rush to his feet in relief.

Grealish turned the straight provider for the second goal after that reprieve, crossing from the left for captain Kane to beat keeper Manuel Neuer with a stooping header with the crowd screaming England on.

It was Kane’s first goal of the tournament, and his return to scoring form will be a boost for England boss Gareth Southgate as he plots a path to the final.

Southgate’s decision to pitch a five-man defence with two holding midfielders was calculated, but England got off to a strong start.
In the 16th minute, Sterling put Neuer to the test by cutting in from the left flank and finding space to unleash a shot into the far corner, which the German goalkeeper did well to get across to.

Much of England’s probing came from Kieran Trippier down the right flank, and with a lofted cross to the back post, he found Harry Maguire in a great position, but his header went over the bar.

Germany had plenty of possession in midfield while England sat deep, but they gave England a warning when Kai Havertz sneaked past Timo Werner, which Pickford quickly smothered.

Matt Hummels had to intervene quickly just before the interval to clear the ball as Kane attempted to pounce after Sterling’s burst into the box had caused confusion.

After the break, Germany sensed England had gone off track and came dangerously near to scoring when Havertz’s thunderous shot was expertly pushed over by Pickford.

The game was on the line, but then came Grealish, whose name had been shouted throughout the game by England fans, and who lived up to those hopes and expectations by giving the spark that England had been missing.

Joachim Loew’s 15-year reign as Germany coach came to an end with the visitors’ defeat, despite leading them to the 2014 World Cup triumph in Brazil.

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