England has played Germany numerous times in the World Cup and European Championships. There have been some great games between the two nations. These are the best English vs German games in soccer history.
The 1966 World Cup final, played between England’s finest team and West Germany, was a great game. The game did not start well for the English, as the West Germans went one goal up. Two goals from England got them in front in the second half. Then, a West German equalizer made it 2-2 in the final minutes of the game. It went into extra-time, and Geoff Hurst was at hand to put the English 3-2 up with a goal that bounced off the crossbar and into the West German net, or did it? Still, a fourth goal from Hurst assured a 4-2 victory for England and a hat-trick for Hurst. The English had won the World Cup.
The rematch of the 1966 final came in the 1970 World Cup as England played West Germany in the quarter-finals. This game was almost as good as the previous final, and saw the English go two goals in front. In the second half, the West Germans regained control of the game and equalized towards the end. The game went into extra time, and this time it was West Germany who would win the game after a Müller goal completed a great comeback.
The 1990 World Cup semi-final saw two great England and West German sides play for a place in the World Cup final. During the game, West Germany went a goal up with a deflected free-kick, beating Peter Shilton. A Gary Linekar equalizer, however, brought the English late on and once again took the game into extra-time as in previous games.
During extra-time, there was little between the two teams, although England went very close with Linekar hitting the post. West Germany also hit the post of the English goal. The game remained tied and went to penalties. Two missed England penalties ensured a great World Cup victory for West Germany, who went on to win the trophy in the final.
After losing to Germany in the first qualifying game, England needed a win against the Germans in Munich to go top of the qualifying group. After a ropey start, which saw the English go a goal down, the Three Lions responded with an equalizer and then went 2-1 in front. They were far from finished, however, and Michael Owen, especially, was in great form as he added to the English lead. The game ended England 5 Germany 1 with a hat-trick from Owen. It was one of England’s best wins against the Germans and ensured that they finished top of the World Cup group table.
This 2010 FIFA World Cup clash was certainly one of the most fondly remembered England vs. Germany clashes from the German perspective. The Germans went two goals up in the first half, but the English did pull one back to make the score 2-1 at half-time. Yet, the Three Lions were evidently struggling against the Germans, and Thomas Müller scored two goals in the second half to wrap a 4-1 rout against the English.
This match also had a significant, controversial moment that changed soccer. Frank Lampard scored a second England goal that bounced off the crossbar and clearly crossed the line during the first half. Yet, a seemingly half-blind referee ruled the goal out. That was one of the worst refereeing decisions in World Cup history that convinced FIFA to introduce goal-line technology for the good of the game.
Those were five of the best English vs. German soccer games played. Such games had plenty of goals and were great soccer matches. Few other fixtures in international soccer can match the history, drama, and excitement of England vs. Germany matches.
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