World champions Germany host England in Dortmund on Wednesday in a mouth-watering international friendly.
Here, we take a look at five historic clashes between the European powerhouses.
JULY 30 1966 – WORLD CUP FINAL
West Germany 2 (Haller 12, Weber 89)
England 2 (Mullery 31, Peters 49) The Germans came back from two-goals down to beat the Three Lions and reach the 1970 World Cup semi-finals where they eventually lost to Italy. Missing goalkeeper Gordon Banks, who was laid low by a stomach upset, England went 2-0 up just after the break thanks to goals from Alan Mullery and Martin Peters, before disaster struck. Banks’s replacement Peter Bonetti allowed a Franz Beckenbauer shot to slip under his body, then Uwe Seeler levelled before Germany’s goal machine Gerd Mueller, who finished with 10 goals in six games, turned and fired in an extra-time winner. JULY 4 1990 – WORLD CUP SEMI-FINAL West Germany 1 (Brehme 60)
England 1 (Lineker 80) West Germany win 4-3 on penalties There were tears in Turin as England crashed out in the penalty shoot-out and Paul Gascoigne was left sobbing after his yellow card in extra-time meant he would have missed the final. With an hour gone, Germany defender Andreas Brehme fired in a free kick which took a deflection off Paul Parker and looped over England goalkeeper Peter Shilton. England equalised when Gary Lineker capitalised on a mistake in the German defence to take the game to extra-time and then penalties. Both teams scored their first three spot-kicks, but German goalkeeper Bodo Illgner saved Stuart Pearce’s shot before Chris Waddle fired over the bar to put Germany in the final they would ultimately win against Argentina. SEPTEMBER 1 2001 – WORLD CUP QUALIFIES Germany 1 (Jancker 6)
England 5 (Owen 12, 48, 66, Gerrard 45+3, Heskey 74) Michael Owen became the first Englishman since Geoff Hurst to score a hat-trick as the Germans were humbled in Munich on the path to the 2002 World Cup. Carsten Jancker gave Germany the lead after six minutes, but it was all England as a David Beckham free-kick was tapped home by Owen on 12 minutes before Steven Gerrard put England 2-1 up at the break. Owen grabbed his second from a Beckham cross and wrapped up his hat-trick after Gerrard won the ball and put in a pass which Owen floated over Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn. Emile Heskey hit England’s fifth after a move started by Beckham and Paul Scholes to cap a glorious night for the English and those on Merseyside as all five goals were scored by Liverpool players. JUNE 27 2010 – WORLD CUP ROUND OF 16 Germany 4 (Klose 20, Podolski 32, Mueller 67, 70)
England 1 (Upson 37)
A youthful Germany team won a classic knockout in Bloemfontein in a match which generated goal-line controversy reminiscent of the 1966 World Cup final at Wembley. Joachim Low’s side went 2-0 up through early goals from Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski. Matthew Upson reduced the deficit before the break and 60 seconds later Frank Lampard was left with his head in his hands after being denied an equaliser. His shot from the edge of the box beat Manuel Neuer, struck the underside of the crossbar and bounced down, clearly over the line, but Uruguay referee Jorge Larrionda waved play on. Germany decided the fixture in impressive style when Thomas Mueller finished off a break by Bastian Schweinsteiger on 67 minutes, then converted a chance created by Mesut Ozil three minutes later.