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29th Jun 2021

Grealish drops out as England starting line-up confirmed for Germany clash

Simon Lloyd

The team news is in

The waiting is nearly over. Kick-off at Wembley is mere minutes away as England face Germany for a place in the quarter-finals of Euro 2020.

As is usually the case before a big England game, Gareth Southgate’s team selection has been the subject of plenty of speculation in the past 48 hours. Now though, his starting XI has been confirmed.

One change has been made to the line-up from the final group game against the Czech Republic. Jack Grealish, responsible for the assist for Raheem Sterling’s winner in that game, drops to the bench. Kieran Trippier, who started England’s tournament opener against Croatia, returns to the starting line-up.

This will be the first time England have faced Germany in a major tournament since the 4-1 defeat they suffered at the last 16 stage of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Germany opened up a two-goal lead in little over half an hour that day. Matthew Upson quickly halved the deficit before officials failed to spot that Frank Lampard’s shot had clearly crossed the line for an equaliser. Two more goals in the second half for Thomas Muller made certain of Germany’s progress.

England famously lost on penalties to Germany in the semi-finals of Euro 96 – there’s a quiz on it right here if you’re short of things to do before or during (!) or after the game – but their last meeting at a European Championships came four years later, when Alan Shearer scored the only goal in a group stage meeting.

 

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