For a dozen minutes of total madness England reminded people just how good it can still be under Gareth Southgate.
The Three Lions turned back the clock to times when football was fun and it felt like the impossible was possible. Two goals down to Germany at Wembley was not what Southgate had in mind as he looked to provide the doubters with something positive to cling to ahead of Qatar 2022.
But then his Three Lions found their guts and spirit to turn the jeers into cheers with three second half goals that came within a whisker of seeing this famous stadium witness one of the greatest comebacks of all time.
Kai Havertz ruined the dream with a late equaliser to earn Germany a share of the spoils from this six goal thriller. And it remains to be seen how significant this performance proves to be once the serious stuff starts at the World Cup in November. But one thing we do know is that it was one hell of a send-off that leaves Southgate and his stars in a much better place then they all found themselves in before a ball had been kicked last night.
This was the last audition for those wanting to make the greatest stage of all - and Southgate had needed a performance to lift the spirits. Something to make the doubters believe again. England had already been relegated from the top tier of the Nations League, but there is no such thing as a meaningless game where the Germans are concerned. And so it proved. It felt like one of the most significant nights of Southgate's time as boss.
England were winless in five before this, hadn't scored a goal in open play for 565 minutes and even Southgate had admitted the mood of a nation had turned. The Three Lions made a bright start, with Phil Foden breaking through the middle and finding Kane, before just failing to reach a cross from his captain. Chances were few and far between until England blew a golden one to end the tedium on 25 minutes.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Can England win the World Cup? Let us know in the comments section
Luke Shaw's sublime ball split the German defence in two to send Raheem Sterling racing clear, but having checked back onto his left to find himself with just Marc-Andre ter Stegen to beat, he shot straight at him. Harry Kane then volleyed just wide before Sterling was denied by Ter Stegen again on the stroke of half time and for a third time soon after to become his nemesis. Then came the moment Southgate will have been dreading when Harry Maguire gave the ball away to Jamal Musiala before bringing him down to concede the spot kick which Ilkay Gundogan duly converted to make it 1-0.
Substitute Timo Werner butchered two great chances to extend the Germans' lead. But Havertz piled on the pain with a stunning strike on 67 minutes, to leave Southgate and his flops looking dead and buried. But Shaw pulled one back to start the Houdini act before substitute Mason Mount fired home an equaliser. And when Nico Schlotterbeck fouled Jude Bellingham to concede a spot kick and see red, Kane stepped up to somehow nudge England ahead. There was still time for Havertz to ruin the mother of all comebacks, though, following an error from Nick Pope. Football eh? Bloody hell.
