ENGLAND 0, GERMANY 0
Jordan Pickford’s hugely impressive goalkeeping debut for England against Germany has put Joe Hart’s position as No 1 under threat.
The Everton keeper described it as a “dream come true” as he kept a clean sheet against the world champions and top ranked team on the planet.
Pickford made two splendid first-half saves and looked confident and assured, two qualities that Hart has lacked on loan at West Ham from Manchester City.
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While Crystal Palace’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek, another debutant, was named sponsors’ man of the match, Pickford was the choice of many at Wembley.
They were not alone in impressing as there were some good individual display from players in the new-look England team.
Footballing centre back Harry Maguire eclipsed the more experienced John Stones and looked as though he had been in the team for years while Joe Gomez, who replaced the injured Phil Jones in the opening period, did not look out of place.
Swansea City striker Tammy Abraham, who was playing in the Championship for Bristol City last season, was also tidy and did his long-term prospects no harm.
And the performances from the new boys provided plenty of food for thought for England manager Gareth Southgate who was without so many regular players.
“There were some top debuts and performances that, without getting carried away, it was encouraging. And it was a brilliant experience for our players, including five debutants,” he said.
Southgate also praised Pickford saying he was aware of his ability from England U21 matches.
“There are saves and saves that win games, and he certainly made important saves and can be pleased with his performance,” he said.
Southgate also praised Loftus-Cheek explaining he had seen him progress from England U16s and knew about his ability, though he is not hugely confident.
“It took him 10 minutes to feel he could do it.He has so many attributes and I believe in him,” he continued.
German coach Joachim Low admitted the game wasn’t as exciting a spectacle as some of their other meetings of recent years and the game could have done with a couple of goals.
Inexperienced England side hold Germany
A length list of injury withdrawals meant it was a makeshift England team.
There were first full caps for Pickford, Loftus-Cheek and Abraham.
And the likes of Kieran Trippier, Danny Rose, Maguire and Jake Livermore only possessed a handful of caps.
The remainder of the side was hardly brimming with experience with Jones, Stone, captain Eric Dier and Jamie Vardy the most seasoned players.
England did have experience on the bench on the form of Hart, Kyle Walker, Ryan Bertrand, Ashley Young and Gary Cahill.
Manchester City pair Leroy Sane and Ilkay Gundogan and Arsenal’s Mezut Ozil were familiar faces in the German side.
There was a moving ceremony before kick off, including a bugler sounding the Last Post at a silent Wembley, to remember the fallen from the two World Wars and other conflicts.
Pickford was quickly called into action in the opening minute to make a hurried clearance following an errant back pass from Maguire.
It was a lively opening as both Trippier and Sane fired into the side netting when it would have been more prudent to square the ball.
England, playing a 3-5-2 system, had an almighty let off after 20 minutes when Joshua Kimmich set up Sane whose shot from the edge of the box hit the underside of the bar and bounced out to safety.
And there was another moments late when Julian Draxler burst through only to be denied by a super stop by Pickford.
The ball rebounded to Sane whose shot beat Pickford but was heroically headed off the line by Jones. The ricochet went to Draxler who fired over.
Jones, injured making that clearance, was replaced by Liverpool’s Joe Gomez who, too, was winning his first cap.
Pickford came to the rescue again six minutes before the break making another important stop to deny Timo Werner who eluded the offside trap.
England’s best chance of the opening period came in the 42nd minute when Abraham turned well but saw his shot take a sizeable deflection and fly a couple of feet wide.
Livermore then fired narrowly off target and Vardy had a half chance as England finished the half strongly as the new-look team began to knit together.
England ought to have taken the lead within five minutes of the restart when Vardy’s header from six yards was well kept out by keeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen. It followed a delightful cross by Trippier that found Vardy unmarked six yards out.
Southgate made his second change on the hour when Abraham made way for Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford.
There was a change of full backs with 19 minutes left when Trippier and Rose were replaced by Walker and Bertrand.
The second half fizzled out action wise and frustrated fans again resorted to making paper aeroplanes with cheers when they reached the field of play.
Southgate made two further changes late in the game as Livermore and Vardy made way for Jack Cork, the fifth England debutant of the night, and Jesse Lingard.
England came agonisingly close to snatching victory in the 94th minute when Lingard blazed over from six yards after Maguire headed a free kick back across the face of goal.