England Showdown With Germany Tops Last-16 Billing At Euro 2020

Paris, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Jun, 2021 ) :A showdown between old rivals England and Germany at Wembley is the standout tie going into the last 16 of Euro 2020 after Joachim Loew's side scraped through on a dramatic final night of group-stage action.

Germany needed a late goal from Leon Goretzka to draw 2-2 with Hungary in Munich on Wednesday and advance to the knockout phase in second place in Group F.

Had they lost they would have been condemned to an ignominious first-round exit just like at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, but now they could be galvanised heading to Wembley next Tuesday for the latest instalment in their long-running rivalry with the English.

"Yes!!!!!!!! Wembley calling!" wrote Bayern Munich midfielder Goretzka on Twitter after coming off the bench to score the equaliser against Hungary.

The match -- overshadowed beforehand by UEFA's refusal to allow the Allianz Arena to be lit up in rainbow colours -- was watched by a television audience of close to 26 million Germans who might now be confident their team can once again get one over on England despite their recent struggles.

"We know that if we play to our potential we'll be strong," insisted Loew, who will step down after the tournament.

The tie brings back memories of the 1966 World Cup final at the same venue which England won 4-2 after extra time.

However it also leads inevitably to mentions of Euro 96 when Germany beat England on penalties at Wembley in the semi-finals before going on to lift the trophy in the final against the Czech Republic.

Indeed, since 1966, Germany have prevailed in all three meetings of the countries in the knockout stages, most recently with a 4-1 win in the last 16 at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

"Oh No Not The Germans Again" said the headline in the Daily Mail in England, summing up the feeling of fans there at the prospect of this latest meeting between the nations.

England have home advantage after topping Group D but there are concerns about the performances so far of Gareth Southgate's team, who edged Croatia and the Czech Republic 1-0 either side of a laborious 0-0 draw against Scotland.