Germany 1-2 England

An astute 92nd minute strike from Francis Jeffers secured a memorable victory for David Platt's England Under-21 side in Freiberg as they overcame group leaders Germany in a wonderfully entertaining encounter on Friday night.

David Platt sent out a compact looking side, founded on a steady central defensive partnership of captain Gareth Barry and Tottenham's promising young talent, Ledley King.

Ahead of them, Joe Cole and Luke Chadwick were given the freedom to roam behind lone striker, Darius Vassell.

In a free-flowing first half, played in torrential rain, it was young West Ham United starlet, Joe Cole, who was England's inspiration. Relishing the responsibility and space that the deep lying striker's role offered him, the diminutive Londoner clearly unnerved his opponents with his skilful and fearless display of front running.

After both sides had threatened, but failed to make the breakthrough, it was Cole who took it upon himself to open the scoring after 54 minutes.

Accepting a perfectly weighted pass from Fulham's Sean Davis, Cole nimbly slalomed past three German defenders, before calmly curling into the far corner.

It was a moment of genuine class and one that evoked memories of Gascoigne and Ortega at their attacking best.

Buoyed by their lead, and with King and Taylor looking more than capable of preserving a clean sheet at the back, England enjoyed a period of dominance, attacking quickly on the break as the Germans pressed for an equaliser.

However, England's old rivals can always be relied upon to continue to work until the final whistle. And so it proved once again as, with only one minute remaining on the clock, Borussia Dortmund defender, Christoph Metzelder, stole up field and met an inch-perfect far post cross with a bullet header to send the home crowd wild.

Yet, far from being dejected at conceding such a late equaliser, England showed the level of mental resolve required of a top international side, immediately taking the game back to Germany.

After Defoe's cheeky chip had sailed over the bar, the game had seemed destined to end in a draw, until the final twist materialised with seconds remaining on the clock.

Once again it was Davis who provided the killer pass, flicking a ball down the inside right channel. Jeffers' striking instincts ensured he was the first to scamper onto the ball and Arsenal's new 'fox in the box' produced a finish of unerring accuracy to leave Timo Hildebrand no chance.

England coach David Platt was understandably delighted after the game, which had been an emotional roller coaster for the former national team captain who was taking charge of his first competitive England fixture.

"There's no other game which takes you up and down so immediately like that one tonight," he told TheFA.com.

"When they equalised in injury time I was thinking `what am I going to say to the boys when they come into the dressing room' because they had worked so hard to get into the position they were in.

"But we managed the winner and what everyone has got to understand is where we have just come and got this result. That to me is the biggest thing. To win away in Germany is fantastic.

"This is all a great learning experience for the team. You have to acquire mental strength and you can't expect them to have it at the age of 20.

"But you can benefit so much from what they have just faced and now we will continue to work on things and try and improve them even more.

"The great thing for me is how receptive they are as players.

Platt was also full of praise for many of his players including keeper Stuart Taylor, who pulled off several fine saves, as well as Cole, who scored his first Under-21 goal.
He said: ``Taylor did exceptionally well and it was just a shame that he didn't keep a clean sheet because his performance deserved it.

"I was also delighted with Joe Cole. He was a constant threat to them and Ledley King was magnificent at the back.

"Now we have to take advantage of this result starting with Albania on Tuesday.''

Germany U21: Hillderband, Metzelder, Zepek, Borowski (Yilmaz 60), Willi (Daun 80), Korzynietz (Freier 60), Rahn, Bruns, Ernst, Bierofka, Friedrich.
Subs Not Used: Benthien, Proll, Zandy, Preub.
Booked: Yilmaz.

England U21: Taylor, Wright, Bridge, Davis, King, Barry, Greening, Prutton, Vassell (Jeffers 75), Joe Cole (Parker 75), Chadwick (Defoe 70).
Subs Not Used: Bywater, Thelwell, Johnson, Wilson.
Booked: Wright, Greening, Barry, Taylor.

Att: 15,000
Ref: Tomasz Mikulski (Poland).