England 3-3 Germany

UEFA Under 19 Championship, Group B Match
Tuesday 22nd July , Nadderud Stadium, Bekkestua

Two late goals for Germany took two points from England in their opening game of the UEFA Under 19 Championships Group B

England opened their account in the prestigious European Under-19 Championships with an enthralling 3-3 draw with Germany on Monday afternoon.

It was a game which entertained from the first to last minute and saw Germany start and finish the stronger but our young lions dominated almost the entire game in between and will know that they should have translated that superiority into the victory they deserved.

Torrential rain for three hours before kick-off left the pitch drenched and made it difficult for England to play the enterprising attacking game on which our tactics are founded.

Germany it was who settled the better and Ulrich Stielike's side were ahead within three minutes, opening the scoring through Moritz Volz. The Arsenal midfielder stormed through the centre of England’s defence before sliding the ball under the advancing Grant for a fine individual goal. The German captain was their outstanding player on the day and we may see him arrive on the Premiership stage before too long.

Stung by the goal, England showed both guts and guile to work their way back into the game and it only took a glimpse of Pennant's class and an example of Ashton's clinical finishing to bring the lions level.

As the ball dropped to Pennant mid-way in the German half he opened himself out to play a cushioned volleyed pass through the centre for the marauding Ashton to latch onto. The Crewe man chested the ball into his path and across that of the defender and, once he was in on goal, produced a consummate finish to level the scores.

Boosted by the goal, England stepped up a gear in their play and on the flanks both Thomas and Pennant looked to have the beating of their markers. The body swerves of Thomas and the pace and intelligent runs of Pennant look set to be major weapons for both Arsenal and England in the coming years and they combined perfectly to give England the lead on 28 minutes.

The energetic Gary O'Neil played in Pennant down the right and the flying forward dashed to the byline before serving up a sumptuous, flashing cross to the far post. With the ball careering across the slick surface it was not easy task for Thomas to convert the chance but he met the centre wonderfully with a powerful volley. His first time, driven finish was simply too much for Haas to contend with in the German goal and he was only able to parry the ball into the roof of the net.

Either side of half-time Germany served notice of their attacking threat and twice we were indebted to fine goalkeeping from Lee Grant who preserved our lead with two fingertip saves from Trochowski and Hanke.

The introduction of Carlton Cole mid-way through the second period gave England more movement upfront and it was not long before the red-hot Chelsea striker had made his mark.

When substitute Michael Chopra and Haas challenged for a 50/50 ball on the edge of the area, Cole latched onto the rebound in a flash to roll the ball home with accuracy and confidence from 25 yards.

With the cushion of a two-goal lead, victory looked to be beckoning for England and we thought that a superior goal-difference was the only loss when Pennant's dinked shot went narrowly wide with only minutes remaining.

However, we were made to rue that miss when Germany, inspired by their quicksilver substitute David Odonkor, rallied for a final flourish in the last five minutes.

First, on 88 minutes, Philip Lahm reminded everyone that the game was not over with a bullet header to reduce the deficit before Hanke gleefully headed in the equaliser after Grant's excellent save had unfortunately turned the ball into the centre forward's path.

There was not even time for England to take the centre, such was the lateness of Germany's equaliser. When referee Edo Trvkovic blew his final whistle some of England players sank to their knees unable to believe that they had somehow surrendered what looked to be an unassailable lead.

What this young team must now do is turn their frustration into determination. This is only the first game and they still have every chance of walking along the road of glory in this tournament.

A win it should have been, but when Germany celebrates a draw against England like it is a victory, you cannot help but believe that you have a fairly decent team on your hands.

From Daniel Freedman in Oslo

England: Grant, Hoyte (Otsemobor 77), Garry, Jenas (c), Johnson, Clark, Pennant, O'Neil, Ashton (Cole 70), Thomas (Chopra 72), Welsh
Subs not used: Bowditch, Carter, Cooke, Lonergan

England Goals: Ashton 8, Thomas 28, Cole 74

Germany Goals: Volz 3, Lahn 89, Hanke 92