Germany 1-0 England
It just had to be didn’t it?!
Football games like this are often decided by wonder strikes or mistakes.
And so it was seemingly written in the sport betting stars that the man who became one of the first faces of multicultural Germany would settle his final outing as an international player with the final word.
What betting odds on Lukas Podolski, on tonight of all nights, settling this one against arch rivals England?
He was made captain for the occasion and duly rewarded the majority of those in Dortmund with a 69th minute strike, his 49th international goal.
One which consigned England to defeat in Gareth Southgate’s first match in full-time charge.
A stunning 25-yard strike on his 130th game for the national team and one which brought the curtain down on his part during a remarkable period in the nation’s history.
A fitting way to mark his farewell international appearance, even England goalkeeper Joe Hart congratulated his opponent after the strike.
No-one can ever take this goal way from him, just like they can’t take away being part of Germany’s World Cup winning squad in 2014.
The world champions edged this friendly and have not conceded a goal since their Euro 2016 semi-final defeat.
Not that England didn’t have their own chances but by the end, the composure of the Germans was evident.
Who knows, perhaps that is what you get when you have one nation managed by someone for 11 years against a country which has had three managers in less than 12 months.
Perhaps that is a little harsh for the Southgate era is only beginning and there was no disgrace in losing out narrowly to the number one team in the world.
But more about England to come.
This was Podolski’s night, as an understrength Germany showed again why they remain a class act, and no-one was going to take that away from him.
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