England 3-3 Germany: Havertz denies Three Lions after stunning turnaround at Wembley

Kai Havertz’s late equaliser denied England a stunning comeback victory as Germany concluded their Nations League campaign with an entertaining 3-3 draw at Wembley.

After a goalless first half, Ilkay Gundogan broke the deadlock from the penalty spot, before Havertz doubled the lead with a stunning 25-yard effort.

But the Three Lions turned the contest on its head with three goals in the space of 12 minutes. Luke Shaw and substitute Mason Mount dragged the hosts level, before Harry Kane’s penalty completed the turnaround.

However, Germany ensured a share of the spoils with three minutes remaining when Havertz tucked home from close range following a goalkeeping error from Nick Pope.

A breathless second half at Wembley ends 3-3. pic.twitter.com/fsUOZfNwCp

— England (@England) September 26, 2022

The best opportunity of the first half came following a swift counter in the 24th minute with Shaw’s delicious through-ball picking out Raheem Sterling, who was denied by Marc-Andre ter Stegen after cleverly escaping his marker.

The visitors took the lead seven minutes after the restart; Gundogan calmly slotting past Nick Pope from the penalty spot after Harry Maguire clumsily felled Jamal Musiala.

Havertz doubled the advantage 15 minutes later as he rounded off a quickfire counter by brilliantly bending a curling 25-yard effort in off the post.

But England hit back with two goals in the space of five minutes. Shaw halved the deficit from Reece James’ cross, before Mount wonderfully swept past Ter Stegen following a jinking run from Bukayo Saka.

The Three Lions edged their noses ahead when Kane slammed home his penalty after Nico Schlotterbeck’s rash challenge on Jude Bellingham, but Havertz had the final say after Pope fumbled Serge Gnabry’s initial strike.

What does it mean? Winless streaks continue despite Wembley thriller

England demonstrated character to overturn the 2-0 deficit with their first goals from open play of this Nations League campaign, a goalless run spanning 520 minutes, but the Three Lions have now gone six games without victory for the first time since 1993.

Meanwhile, despite stretching their unbeaten run to nine away matches, Germany have now drawn four in a row on the road for the first time.

6 – England are winless in their last six games in all competitions (D3 L3), their longest run since April-June 1993 (also six). It’s their longest ever winless run going into a major tournament. Countdown. pic.twitter.com/cVvIHeUIwn

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 26, 2022

Captain Kane delivers as he hits half a century

Kane completed the turnaround with an emphatic penalty – his 51st international goal – and is now just two shy of equalling Wayne Rooney’s record all-time England record.

That came on the day the striker became the fifth player to start 50 games as captain of the Three Lions after Bobby Moore (90), Billy Wright (90), Bryan Robson (64) and David Beckham (59).

Havertz hits a stunner

The pick of the six goals came courtesy of Havertz, who made it 2-0 when he bent a wonderful 25-yard strike beyond the helpless Pope.

Havertz also grabbed the equaliser with his third shot of the match – a tally only matched by Jude Bellingham throughout the contest in what was a lively outing for the Chelsea forward.

Key Opta Facts

– Having kept six clean sheets and conceded just twice in their first eight games under Hansi Flick, Germany have conceded in each of their past seven games in all competitions (10 goals conceded).

– England have conceded at least three goals in consecutive home games for the first time since June 1995 (v Sweden and Brazil). Meanwhile, this was their highest scoring game that was goalless at half-time since October 2008 (5-1 v Kazakhstan).

– The Three Lions have failed to score in the first half of six consecutive games for the first time in their history, while Shaw’s second half strike ended the Three Lions’ run of 520 minutes without a non-penalty goal in all competitions.

– There were just 186 seconds between Luke Shaw pulling one back and Mason Mount equalising for England (2-2), with the latter ending a run of 16 games without a goal for England.

– Germany’s Havertz became the first player to score twice against England in a match at Wembley since Alexis Sanchez for Chile in November 2013.

What’s next?

Germany complete their World Cup preparations with a friendly against Oman on November 15, before playing Japan in their Group E opener eight days later. England launch their tournament on November 21 against Iran in Group B.