After 55 years of hurt, England finally beat Germany in a knockout game again, with Raheem Sterling – their Euro 2020 hero – and Harry Kane sending them into the quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over their great rivals.
Sterling scored both England goals in the group phase and began and finished their slick second-half move to light up a previously tense, stodgy game and send the majority of the 45,000 fans inside Wembley wild with delight.
Thomas Muller had a wonderful chance to level it up but when he shot wide, Kane put England in full control, shrugging off a difficult campaign so far, and a first half in which he was starved of the ball, to head in Jack Grealish’s cross.
Germany had gone seven games unbeaten at Wembley, not losing a competitive fixture at England’s national stadium since the 1966 World Cup final, but Gareth Southgate’s new generation of players made history of their own on Tuesday evening.
Their next step on that journey will be in Rome against Ukraine – and after recording a victory which will be remembered for years to come, they will go to Italy full of belief.
With an increased attendance of 45,000 supporters, the atmosphere was electric at kick-off but it was visitors Germany who were quickest to settle, with Declan Rice forced into a desperate foul on Leon Goretzka after the midfielder broke through England’s back three and raced towards goal.
Kai Havertz blasted that free-kick into England’s wall and the hosts eventually began to find a foothold, with Sterling testing Manuel Neuer from distance with his side’s first shot on 16 minutes.
The effort galvanised his team-mates and England, with Bukayo Saka leading the charge, won a series of free-kicks around the Germany box before Harry Maguire headed over Kieran Trippier’s cross from the right.
Despite the formation change, England were still struggling to find a way through to captain Kane, who had just two touches in the opening half an hour. At the other end, Timo Werner’s runs were looking more threatening, with the Chelsea striker denied from close range by Jordan Pickford.
Kane eventually got on the ball in space in midfield five minutes before the break but his pass for Kalvin Phillips was overhit, with the Leeds man breaking through space in the German defence, before a Mats Hummels clearance prevented the skipper from latching onto a Trippier free-kick in the box himself.
Hummels was there again on the stroke of half-time, pouncing on Kane’s poor touch after Sterling’s surging run to snuff out a good chance.
Germany were immediately on the front foot after the break – and Havertz drew a sublime stop from Pickford to keep the scores level. The forward lashed a left-foot rocket at goal from the edge of the box but the England goalkeeper’s reactions were like lightning and he pushed the ball over the bar.
Again it was Sterling who tried to get England into gear, sitting down Goretzka before dribbling into a crowd of defenders in the German box, before again running into traffic after a quick one-two with Kane as both teams began to get bogged down in midfield.
Changes were needed and moments after his appearance on the big screen was cheered by England supporters inside Wembley, Grealish was sent on by Southgate, with Germany turning to Serge Gnabry.
Eight minutes later England were ahead.
Again Grealish was involved but it was a moment of pure joy for Kane, who has suffered and struggled through this tournament.
The England captain was perfectly placed to head home Grealish’s pass after Shaw had won the ball back in midfield and exposed the German defence.
For Germany boss Joachim Low it was his final match in charge of the national team. For Southgate it was a hero’s round of applause as he walked down the tunnel to prepare for Saturday.
