Lukas Podolski nets Germany winner vs. England in final game

Lukas Podolski scored the winner in his final international appearance as Germany defeated England 1-0 in Dortmund.

Podolski, captaining his country as he won his 130th cap, settled the friendly in the 69th minute with his 49th international goal, a stunning effort that sailed into the top corner from distance.

It was England, however, who started the game on top and just moments after Jamie Vardy saw a penalty appeal turned down, debutant Michael Keane sent a strike, following a Ryan Bertrand corner in the seventh minute, just over the bar.

The visitors came close from another corner after 26 minutes, with Adam Lallana's delivery meeting the head of Eric Dier, but he could only head straight at Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

And England's first-half dominance continued when five minutes later Lallana intercepted the ball on the halfway line and drove towards the box, only for his strike at goal to come back off the post.

Germany's first real effort at goal did not come until the 37th minute when Podolski took aim from distance but fired over the bar from just outside the area.

England, who saw Dier send a free kick just over, created a great chance four minutes from the end of the first half, with Vardy slipping in the unmarked Dele Alli, but the Tottenham midfielder could only direct his effort straight at ter Stegen.

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Germany were presented with an opportunity to take the lead just minutes after the restart when a weak Joe Hart punch from a cross fell into the path of Julian Brandt on the edge of the box, but his first-time hit sailed inches wide of the post.

The visitors' first chance of the second half came in the 53rd minute when Alli arrived at the far post to meet Vardy's cross, only to fail to connect properly with the ball, while Germany experienced something similar down the other end as Podolski just missed out on Toni Kroos' ball over the top.

Two minutes later and England were attacking again as Dier forced his way into the box before rifling a low hit at goal that ter Stegen did very well to tip away to safety.

But it was Germany who broke the deadlock in the 69th minute, with Podolski picking up the ball on the edge of the area before unleashing a fine strike into the top corner, leaving Hart with no chance.

And the hosts could have doubled their lead four minutes later when Leroy Sane found himself in on goal, but an excellent save from Hart prevented his effort from flying into the bottom corner.

Germany had another chance to make it two late on when the ball fell to Andre Schurrle on the edge of the box, but the Borussia Dortmund man fired just wide.