England endured a miserable night at Wembley as Germany deservedly secured a 4-3 victory in a remarkably error-strewn encounter. The friendly clash was the first meeting between the two nations since the Euro 2022 final, but this was a very different clash, as England conceded four goals at home for the first time since 1997.
Germany were three goals up inside half an hour as they took full advantage of some woeful England defending. Giulia Gwinn converted an early spot-kick, after Leah Williamson’s poor pass led to Millie Bright conceding a penalty, before the Bayern midfielder swiftly doubled her tally.
The Wembley faithful were further stunned when Klara Buhl drilled a low finish past Hannah Hampton at the near post, the Lionesses goalkeeper not doing enough to sum up a sloppy showing from the hosts. And yet the Lionesses could easily have been level at half-time. George Stanway scored twice in three minutes, the first a fortunate penalty but the second a lifted finish after a lovely team move.
Germany were much the better side after the break and wasted several chances to strengthen their control but the fourth goal eventually, and inevitably, came. This time Alessia Russo was unfortunate to concede the penalty, as Sara Dabritz then stepped up to dispatch the third spot-kick of the match. There was still time for more mistakes, Ann-Katrin Berger dropping the ball under no pressure with ten minutes remaining and leaving an empty net for Lucy Bronze to score into.
England vs Germany latest news
- GOAL! Bronze sets up grandstand finish
- GOAL! Second for Stanway before half-time
- GOAL! Stanway penalty pulls one back
- GOAL! Buhl piles misery on England
- GOAL! Gwinn doubles lead with barely ten minute played
- GOAL! Gwinn dispatches early penalty
FT: England 3-4 Germany
21:28 , Matt VerriThere is the full-time whistle!
Germany winners at Wembley, as England concede four goals at home for the first times since 1997.
A lot of questions for the Lionesses after that.
England 3-4 Germany
21:26 , Matt Verri90+4 mins: England corner... Berger claims this one. And drops to the ground, ticking away the seconds.
Germany closing in on the win they deserve.
England 3-4 Germany
21:25 , Matt Verri90+3 mins: Carter now fouled, another free-kick for England.
Some consistent pressure from the Lionesses, but they are running out of time.
England 3-4 Germany
21:23 , Matt Verri90+1 mins: Superb from Naz, strong run down the left wing and she’s dragged down. Free-kick in a great position out wide.
Up come the England defenders...
England 3-4 Germany
21:21 , Matt Verri90 mins: Six minutes added on!
Still plenty of time for the Lionesses to somehow get something from this match.
England 3-4 Germany
21:20 , Matt Verri89 mins: Can England create one more opportunity?
Every chance Germany just pass it into their own net, the way this match has gone...
England 3-4 Germany
21:16 , Matt Verri85 mins: Germany back to dominating the ball. They will not be able to believe it if they don’t leave here with the win.
It’s very nearly 5-3 as the ball squirms around in the six-yard box. Greenwood turns it away on the line.
Simon Collings at Wembley
21:13 , Matt VerriThe bloopers DVD from this game is going to do a roaring trade at Christmas.
Remarkable stuff.
GOAL! England 3-4 Germany | Lucy Bronze 81'
21:12 , Matt VerriThis one counts!
Hemp’s free-kick is bang average, but Berger just drops it under no pressure. Falls for Bronze, empty net and she can’t miss.
GOOO... OFFSIDE!
21:08 , Matt VerriHemp is clean through, cuts onto her right foot and finishes really well... but the flag is up.
She was about a yard off.
Simon Collings at Wembley
21:06 , Matt VerriTruly bizarre game, this.
England just so lax at the back that Germany will be disappointed they've only got four.
England 2-4 Germany
21:05 , Matt Verri74 mins: No idea how that has been given as a penalty. But it wasn’t handball for England’s in the first half, so we’ll call it quits.
Kelly is on for the Lionesses, replacing Russo. Hemp goes through the middle.
GOAL! England 2-4 Germany | Sara Dabritz 72'
21:03 , Matt VerriReplays suggest that’s a poor decision, but VAR confirms it.
Dabritz... makes it 4-2!
That could be that for the Lionesses.
PENALTY GERMANY!
21:02 , Matt VerriA third penalty of the match.
Hampton spills the free-kick, it’s a scramble in the box and Russo lunges in... penalty.
England 2-3 Germany
21:01 , Matt Verri69 mins: No sign of Germany sitting back on their lead. Four players being left up front, ready to burst into life on the counter.
Here they come again, Brand leading the charge. Greenwood puts a stop to it but the whistle goes, high foot from the defender.
England 2-3 Germany
20:58 , Matt Verri66 mins: Germany corner, they continue to be camped in the England half.
Lionesses need to get back to that 20 minutes or so before half-time, when they carried a real threat themselves.
England 2-3 Germany
20:55 , Matt Verri64 mins: It is almost impossible to understand how this is 3-2.
Germany could have scored four since half-time, it’s a constant stream of chances. Rauch the latest to go close, Hampton tips over.
England have no structure at all.
Dom Smith at Wembley
20:53 , Matt VerriBoth teams playing such unusually high lines explains, I think, partly why this match has been so end-to-end.
Though there hasn't been a goal in the second half yet, it has still had a quite frantic pace to it.
Next goal will be crucial.
England 2-3 Germany
20:52 , Matt Verri60 mins: England lose it again, Germany with yet another chance.
Ball rolled Buhl’s path, huge opportunity but she blazes over from inside the box.
Wiegman has seen enough. Greenwood on, captain Williamson off.
England 2-3 Germany
20:50 , Matt Verri58 mins: Russo, as ever, has worked really hard up front, she’s had a pretty good match.
Attacking players have been decent overall, probably has been behind them.
Here come Germany again, Brand skips away from Bright and she’s in on goal.
Should score... Hampton saves!
England 2-3 Germany
20:46 , Matt Verri55 mins: We’ve gone back to the early stages of the first-half.
Germany so dangerous, England hanging on for dear life. Visitors finding plenty of space out wide.
England 2-3 Germany
20:42 , Matt Verri51 mins: England saved by the offside flag.
Brand turns it in, but the flag is swiftly raised and VAR confirms the decision.
England 2-3 Germany
20:40 , Matt Verri49 mins: Good start to the half from England.
Hemp skips to the byline, cut-back is a decent one but Stanway can’t create the space for a shot.
Without wanting to jinx anything, early signs would suggest the scoring is not done.
Simon Collings at Wembley
20:37 , Matt VerriJess Park on at half-time for England.
Given her form for Man City this season, I think many would have had her on from the start.
England 2-3 Germany
20:37 , Matt Verri46 mins: A change for England at the break.
Toone is off, with Park brought on in midfield. Those defenders have done very well to stay on.
Back underway!
20:36 , Matt VerriLet’s hope for more of the same...
Toone can't take chance...
20:33 , Matt VerriFive goals... and it should have been more.
This was a massive chance for Ella Toone, who really should have levelled it up at 3-3.
Ella Toone with a HUGE chance to complete England's comeback 😳#ITVFootball | #ENGGER pic.twitter.com/rcjMSLe29Q
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) October 25, 2024
Dom Smith at Wembley
20:24 , Matt VerriFive goals in the first half of an utterly barmy match.
England have been so open defensively but fought back well from 3-0 down to give themselves a chance in the second period.
An enticing fixture on paper; an even better game in reality.
HT: England 2-3 Germany
20:21 , Matt VerriAnd breathe.
Well... that was mental. Germany went 3-0 up inside half an hour, England an absolute mess at the back.
That hasn’t really changed, but Germany decided to join them in that. A Georgia Stanway brace has got the Lionesses back in it.
England 2-3 Germany
20:19 , Matt Verri45+4 mins: What is going on!
Dallmann tries her luck from miles out, looks to be looping in but Hampton tips it onto the bar. Huge save in the end.
England 2-3 Germany
20:1745+2 mins: Can’t really emphasise enough how open England are.
Four German players waiting on the left, comes to Linder and her shot is turned behind by Hampton.
Great corner, but Russo is there in her own six-yard box to clear.
England 2-3 Germany
20:16 , Matt Verri45 mins: Shame this half has to end really. Imagine both managers might ask their players to try and defend a bit after the break.
Walsh with a lovely clipped ball, flicked out of Bronze’s path. Corner.
Five minutes added on!
England 2-3 Germany
20:12 , Matt Verri42 mins: Germany look like they are going to score with every attack. England the same.
This could finish 7-7.
Buhl is in again for Germany, into the box but Bright just about gets a foot in.
Simon Collings at Wembley
20:11 , Matt VerriThe defending on show here is...well...interesting.
Great entertainment, at least.
England 2-3 Germany
20:10 , Matt Verri39 mins: WHAT A MISS!
This is just ridiculous. Doorsoun with about as bad a pass as you’ll ever see and Toone can stroll through on goal.
Only the goalkeeper to beat... rolls the finish wide. Had to score.
England 2-3 Germany
20:09 , Matt Verri38 mins: Germany have just given up defending.
Mead completely free again, tries to slide the pass through to Russo but too much on it.
Better ball and Russo was clean through.
Dom Smith at Wembley
20:08 , Matt VerriWell I was clearly wrong, and suddenly out of nowhere England are back to within a goal of parity and very much back in this match.
It is as open a game as I can remember in recent years here at Wembley. A great watch.
Now, can England end up on the right side of the scoreline?
GOAL! England 2-3 Germany | Georgia Stanway 36'
20:06 , Matt VerriIt really is game on now!
Madness at Wembley. Mead rolls the ball into the middle for Stanway and she lifts the finish in from close range.
England 1-3 Germany
20:06 , Matt Verri35 mins: Bit more energy about England now, that goal has put a bit of doubt in this Germany side.
Or not, here come the visitors on the counter again.
Buhl inside onto her right foot in the box, this time she’s closed down before she can get a shot away.
Simon Collings at Wembley
20:04 , Matt VerriEngland gifted a route back into this match. Just what they needed before the break, in all honesty.
Even if they've looked open at the back, the Lionesses are carrying a threat in attack.
GOAL! England 1-3 Germany | Georgia Stanway 33'
20:04 , Matt VerriThere’s one back!
Stanway fires the spot-kick into the bottom corner. Game on?
PENALTY ENGLAND!
20:02 , Matt VerriWell then!
Referee over to the monitor and she returns to point to the spot.
Feels harsh, but England couldn’t care less.
England 0-3 Germany
20:02 , Matt Verri31 mins: England on the attack, looking to pull one back immediately.
Hemp with the cross in, big Lionesses appeals for handball. VAR will have a look.
Gwinn slid in and the ball did hit her hand, but she was only a couple of yards away.
Dom Smith at Wembley
20:00 , Matt VerriEngland are being given a lesson in counter-attacking football here.
The Lionesses find themselves 3-0 down at home after just 28 minutes, and that is pretty damning for the reigning European champions.
Is there a way back into this game? I would wager that there isn't.
GOAL! England 0-3 Germany | Klara Buhl 29'
19:59 , Matt VerriThis is getting seriously ugly for England.
Germany break and there’s so much space for them.
Ball stays onside and can drive into the box, low strike beats Hampton at the near post. Not great goalkeeping.
England 0-2 Germany
19:56 , Matt Verri25 mins: Hampton slips and briefly appears to be in big trouble, but recovers in time to slid in and clear the danger.
England keep putting themselves in trouble - Germany much, much sharper.
England 0-2 Germany
19:53 , Matt Verri22 mins: Mead loses it, Germany break and it’s a corner for the visitors.
Deep ball in, Russo there to head it out and then into a heavy collision on the touchline. Both players swiftly back up.
England 0-2 Germany
19:50 , Matt Verri20 mins: Bright wins the header from the corner, but it loops wide.
England definitely look capable of troubling this German defence and scoring, but they also look incredibly vulnerable at the other end.
England 0-2 Germany
19:49 , Matt Verri19 mins: Mead with the loose pass, Bright has to scramble back and play it to Hampton under pressure.
More like it, Walsh with a brilliant ball out to Bronze. She can’t do anything with it, but Mead wins it back.
Great cross in, Russo’s flicked header takes a deflection and bobbles wide of the far post.
England 0-2 Germany
19:47 , Matt Verri16 mins: Long ball out to the right again, Gwinn in behind Carter once more. England are ragged at the back.
Ball bounces around in the box, before the offside flag goes up.
England 0-2 Germany
19:43 , Matt Verri13 mins: This is pure chaos.
England are in straight from kick-off, Russo lashes an effort at goal and it’s off the woodwork!
Inches away from pulling one back.
Simon Collings at Wembley
19:43 , Matt VerriWembley is stunned after that goal. Wiegman pulls Mead over for a chat and, what you imagine, is some tactical advice.
The Lionesses all at sea.
GOAL! England 0-2 Germany | Giulia Gwinn 11'
19:42 , Matt VerriAnd it’s now 2-0!
England are all over the place at the back.
So, so much space on the right for Germany and they take full advantage. Switched out to Gwinn, fires the finish low and in off the far post.
GOOO... OFFSIDE!
19:41 , Matt VerriLionesses denied an equaliser!
Walsh with the brilliant ball over, Toone at the second attempt backheels it into the path of Russo.
Great finish from the Arsenal striker, but the flag goes up.
England 0-1 Germany
19:39 , Matt Verri8 mins: Mead pass to Russo, if she could have poked it through to Toone, the midfielder was completely free and in on goal.
Turned behind for a corner instead, Hemp to take.
Bright with the foul in the middle as she challenges for it.
England 0-1 Germany
19:36 , Matt Verri6 mins: Bright was booked for that challenge as she gave away the penalty. All came from Williamson completely under-hitting a pass.
Lionesses haven’t really settled yet.
Dom Smith at Wembley
19:35 , Matt Verri1 minute and 55 seconds on the clock, and England - through lax defending - had already conceded a penalty.
Confidently dispatched, too, and it's hard to imagine a worse start from the home side
GOAL! England 0-1 Germany | Giulia Gwinn 4'
19:34 , Matt VerriGwinn makes no mistake!
Hampton goes the right way but can’t keep it out.
PENALTY GERMANY!
19:33 , Matt VerriDisaster from England.
Williamson with an awful pass and Germany pounce, slipped through to Dallmann and Bright brings her down in the box.
KICK-OFF!
19:30 , Matt VerriWe’re up and running at Wembley!
Here we go!
19:25 , Matt VerriSteph Houghton leads the England team out tonight, ahead of Leah Williamson.
Houghton’s international career is being celebrated, big smiles in the tunnel as she greets the England team.
Time for the anthems.
Not long now!
19:18 , Matt VerriJust over ten minutes to go until kick-off at Wembley.
Expecting a crowd of around 55,000 tonight, as the Lionesses begin a run of friendlies to finish the year.
Emma Hayes and the USA will be at Wembley next month for another huge occasion.
Wiegman explains team selection
19:09 , Matt VerriSarina Wiegman has been speaking ahead of kick-off.
Asked if Hampton is now England’s number one, she says: “No, that’s right.
“The competition is really going on. We have really good goalkeepers, Mary and Hannah are really in competition with each other.
“Hannah is playing tonight, we’ll see what that brings.”
On the England midfield tonight, Wiegman adds: “They have really good connections, they’ve played high level for us.
“But we also have other good midfielders knocking on the door. The other ones are ready.”
Simon Collings at Wembley
19:01 , Matt VerriNew era for the Lionesses?
"We could be seeing a changing of the guard in goal."
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) October 25, 2024
🗣 @sr_collings gives his pre-match thoughts at Wembley as Hannah Hampton starts for England.
LIVE: https://t.co/kKBPS42HX3 #ENGGER | #Lionesses pic.twitter.com/oUyyBcO6fL
Lionesses have arrived!
18:53 , Matt VerriHosts strolled into Wembley a bit earlier this season.
Plenty of experience in that starting lineup tonight, they’ve all been here a fair few times before.
Wembley entrance 💁♀️
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) October 25, 2024
Shot on Google Pixel. pic.twitter.com/aa7LnEsoMi
All building towards Euro 2025
18:47 , Matt VerriThe draw for next summer’s European Championship will take place on December 16.
Nine teams have already booked their place at the tournament, including England and Germany.
Seven more to be filled through the play-offs, which are taking place over the next month or so.
Germany team news
18:35 , Matt VerriAnd here’s the Germany starting lineup for you...
Unsere Start-11 gegen England 🔥
— DFB-Frauen (@DFB_Frauen) October 25, 2024
WIR #IMTEAM 🇩🇪 #ENGGER
📸 DFB/Thomas Böcker pic.twitter.com/kaivga08hB
Hampton vs Earps
18:28 , Matt VerriHannah Hampton gets the nod in goal tonight.
That’s going to be a big story over the eight months or so - will it be Hampton or Mary Earps in goal at the Euros?
Earps has had a bit of a time tough of it since joining PSG in the summer and it’s now Hampton who seems to have the England shirt.
England team news
18:16 , Matt VerriStarting XI: Hampton, Bronze, Bright, Williamson, Carter, Walsh, Stanway, Mead, Toone, Hemp, Russo
Subs: Earps, Moorhouse, Le Tissier, Park, Morgan, Greenwood, Beever-Jones, Clinton, Kelly, Naz, Parker
Next generation eye Lionesses glory
18:11 , Matt VerriMemories of the Lionesses’ victory over Germany in the final of Euro 2022 will come flooding back tonight — and it is the same when you visit St George’s Park.
On the walls outside the National Football Centre, the iconic image of Chloe Kelly celebrating the winning goal by whipping off her shirt and spinning it in the air is displayed for all to see.
The challenge for the next generation is to carry on the trail those before them have blazed. The wider public did not know of Kelly until she wrote her name into the history books and the same goes for the rest of the squad.
They have become household names, with goalkeeper Mary Earps crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year, but all of it started the moment they became European champions.
There is confidence the talent coming through can achieve the same feats, starting with next summer’s Euros — when England will be defending champions.
The side that won the Euros two years ago is evolving and from the XI that started the final, Ellen White and Rachel Daly have retired, while four others are over 30.
Read our Lionesses long read here!
Good memories!
17:59 , Matt VerriIt would be rude not to...
The last time these two sides met, it was a fairly decent afternoon for the Lionesses.
Wiegman: We've moved on from Euros win
17:51 , Matt VerriSarina Wiegman insists she will always cherish winning the European Championship with England but is focused on more success as the Lionesses switch their attention to the next tournament in 2025.
England meet Germany in a repeat of the Euro 2022 final, where Wiegman's side won their first major trophy following goals from Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly.
Speaking at a press conference at St George's Park, Wiegman said on Thursday: "We will always cherish that - it's one of the big moments in my career and life but now is now, moving forward it's a totally different team.
"We've moved on and now is the start for the next Euros next summer.
"You always want to go faster but the level of the league has increased and so has international football, it's developed which is what we want but means we need to develop as well.
"We just know where we want to be on July 2, and qualifying starts after tomorrow evening. So much has happened to the team since two years ago.
"They (Germany) have a new coach so may do other things, it's a good challenge because we don't exactly know what they will do but is a good experience for us to have tomorrow at the highest level."
Stage is set!
17:44 , Matt VerriAll eyes on Wembley tonight!
The scene is set.
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) October 25, 2024
📍 Wembley Stadium pic.twitter.com/sEeCCHGZVa
Standard Sport prediction
17:24 , Matt VerriEngland have not been particularly convincing over the past 12 months, and this will be a good test of where they are ahead of next summer’s Euros.
Germany impressed at the Olympics and are certainly capable of going toe-to-toe with the Lionesses, in what could prove to be a tight encounter.
Draw, 1-1.
England team news
17:15 , Matt VerriLauren James withdrew from the England squad with a calf injury.
She had been set to make her first appearance for the Lionesses in six months after she was named in the squad, but the decision has been made to stay with Chelsea.
Arsenal defender Lotte Wubben-Moy returns to the squad after missing July’s all-important Euro 2025 qualifiers with the Republic of Ireland and Sweden due to injury.
Goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse retains her place in the squad as her record-breaking NWSL season continues.
Aggie Beever-Jones and Jessica Naz retain their places after impressing in the summer having moved up from the Under-23s.
How to watch England vs Germany
17:06TV channel: The game will be broadcast for free on ITV1, with coverage starting at 7pm BST ahead of a 7.30pm kick-off.
Live stream: Subscribers will be able to watch on a live stream via ITVX, which is free with a subscription.
Live blog: Follow all the action right here with us, featuring expert analysis from Simon Collings and Dom Smith at Wembley!
Good evening!
16:58 , Matt VerriHello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of England vs Germany!
It’s a blockbuster friendly at Wembley tonight, as the Lionesses play their part in a repeat of the Euro 2022 final.
We’ll have all the latest updates, build-up and team news ahead of kick-off, which comes at 7:30pm BST!
