Sterling’s Summer Heroics Continue As England Beat Germany

Raheem Sterling was again England’s hero as he opened the scoring in the Three Lions’ 2-0 win against Germany, which ensures that Gareth Southgate’s side are in the quarter-finals of Euro 2020.

Harry Kane added a second after a quiet evening by the Tottenham striker’s standards, putting the game beyond any doubt late on.

The first half came and went with little of any real significance happening. Harry Maguire had a couple of headers from set pieces that Manuel Neuer was able to deal with relatively easily, and Kane had a huge chance at the end of the half but tried to take a touch too many to round Neuer, allowing Mats Hummels to make a great recovery tackle to clear from beneath the crossbar.

At the other end, Germany’s best chance fell to Timo Werner when club teammate Kai Havertz found him with a gorgeously weighted through ball, but Werner’s effort was saved by Jordan Pickford.

Havertz himself forced Pickford into an excellent save in the second half, with the Everton forward showing great reactions to tip a driven volley over the crossbar.

But, as he has done so often this summer, Sterling appeared when it mattered most. With around a quarter of an hour to play, Sterling started an attack from midway into Germany’s half, the Manchester City man drove at the opposition before offloading and continuing his run. The ball made its way out to Luke Shaw on the left and his low cross found Sterling to tap in from close range.

Sterling very nearly became the villain shortly after. Losing possession sloppily, Germany broke when Havertz put Thomas Muller through. Galloping towards goal with the entire England half in front of him, the Bayern Munich forward dragged his effort disappointingly wide as he got to the edge of the box.

Muller didn’t have to wait long before being made to rue his miss as Kane doubled the hosts’ lead. A quick break set substitute Jack Grealish in on the left and he, from where Shaw had, delivered a pinpoint cross onto the England captain’s head allowing him to open his account at Euro 2020.

England will now meet either Sweden or Ukraine in the quarter-finals in Rome on Saturday, July 3.