Euros at a glance: No, the Germans don’t always win

30-Jun-2021, 14:00

30 Jun 2021, 14:00

Remember what Gary Lineker famously said in 1990?

German forward Thomas Muller reacts after missing a glorious chance to equalise. (AP pic)

RESULTS
ENGLAND 2 GERMANY 0
SWEDEN 1 UKRAINE 2 (AFTER EXTRA-TIME)

After losing the 1990 World Cup semifinal on penalties, England legend Gary Lineker uttered these famous words: “Football is a simple game, 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win.” Except, they didn’t this morning. What Lineker and his teammates couldn’t do after 120 minutes and five penalty kicks, Gareth Southgate’s men did in 90 minutes, scoring two brilliantly worked goals to boot. Yes, the same Southgate whose spotkick miss in the Euro 96 semifinal against the Germans ended the Three Lions’ hopes of becoming European champions. Now, he’s led his country to a first knockout stage win over Germany in 55 years. Can’t write a better script.

Also, Germany’s demise means all four teams from the ‘Group of Death’ are now ‘dead’.

The only other time England kept clean sheets in the opening four matches of a tournament was in 1966, when they won the World Cup. So, is it coming home?