England looked on the cusp of a remarkable Wembley comeback on Monday evening as Harry Kane thumped his 83rd-minute penalty home to make it 3-2. However, Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope's mistake proved costly just moments later as Germany were gifted an agonising late equaliser.
Picked over Arsenal 's Aaron Ramsdale for the second of England's two Nations League clashes, Pope had the chance to firmly enter the conversation as to potentially taking the No 1 spot from Everton's Jordan Pickford. However, the fallout from the 3-3 draw has hurt the former Burnley man's chances.
Much has been made of the late error and Pope's overall match rating but England boss Gareth Southgate was quick out of the blocks to defend his shot-stopper. “It is an error, and of course he’s going to be down,” he said. “But the team has to be together and we have done that all week.
