A host of youngsters were in action for the Three Lions, as Tammy Abraham and Ruben Loftus-Cheek shine on their debut
FOR once they made some friends out there.
There was no hostility, no frustration, no threats to walk down Wembley Way, never to return.
England did not beat world champions Germany and they could not find a way to score past them. They did not have to.
Sure, would have won it if substitute Jesse Lingard had hooked his effort into the net in the final few seconds of injury time.
More important, this was the night when England’s players felt a whole lot of love from the country again.
Everybody knows what would happened if Gareth Southgate’s side had been walloped 3-0 out there.
The inquest into the future of English football would have lasted well beyond the game against those show-ponies Brazil on Tuesday.
Instead they held their own out against Germany, warming the cockles with a purposeful, confident, assured performance.
England showed promise, with the dazzling performances of Ruben Loftus-Cheek and keeper Jordan Pickford to pick over.
They both played their way into Gareth Southgate’s thinking here.
It will not take much for Pickford, who decided he would be unbeatable from minute one, to dislodge Joe Hart as first pick.
Southgate’s selection for Brazil on Tuesday will be telling.
Loftus-Cheek is certain to start, easing his way into this England side after a purposeful, striding performance from midfield.
He nicked the man of the match award ahead of Pickford, but only just.
Loftus-Cheek played like he belonged on the biggest stage, with his double nutmeg on Leroy Sane and Germany new-boy Marcel Halstenberg in the first half announcing his arrival.
Beyond that he grew into the game.
The quiet man of the England squad, the man Southgate wants to have a bigger voice around the place, was the biggest noise.
England’s coach will have to be more patient with Tammy Abraham, starting up front because of Harry Kane’s dodgy injury.
Abraham, who had a decent chance to score in the first half, lasted 59 minutes before Southgate sent for Marcus Rashford.
Still, two out of three is a decent return at international level.
England played on a level, growing in stature as this prestige Friday night friendly in front of a full-house wore on.
Let’s not pretend Joachim Low’s side were playing at anything other than half-cock out there.
In tournament football, when they settle into their stride at the World Cup next summer, they will be formidable opposition.
Mesut Ozil, save for a majestic first half pass that slice England’s defence apart, Ilkay Gundogan and Julian Draxler went through the motions.
They held England at arm’s length, doing just enough to make sure that the could enjoy their Saturday afternoon sightseeing in London.
For once, England were here on business.
Loftus-Cheek was the influence, with his no-look pass through for Jamie Vardy to run on to at the end of the first half showing match-winning qualities.
Pickford, handed this start because of the injury to Jack Butland, offered security at the back.
He is a confident boy and a clean sheet against Germany will puff him up a bit more.
The Everton keeper twice saved well from Germany’s goal-a-game striker Timo Werner in the first half. Good for him.
Sure, he was a bystander when Sane picked his spot early on, beaten all ends up by the pace and dip on the ball when he had a dig from long range.
Sane, Germany’s best player, saw his effort smack against the underside of the crossbar before England scrambled it away.
England were decent defensively, but there will be another reshuffle when Neymar and pals rock up on Tuesday.
Phil Jones, already carrying heavy strapping, hobbled off in the first half.
Southgate sent for Liverpool defender Joe Gomez, a reflex reaction ahead of Everton’s Michael Keane.
Gomez’s delightful crossfield pass into the feet of Kieran Trippier, popping up on England’s left, settled any nerves.
England had a couple of decent first half chances, with Abraham facing to read Jamie Vardy’s pass across goal in the opening couple of minutes.
Kieran Trippier, arriving at the far post, hit the side-netting.
Abraham did alright, very nearly scoring on his debut when he found some wriggle room on the edge of the area.
He somehow got a shot away, deflecting off the boots of Germany’s defence and inches wide of Marc-Andre Ter Stegen’s right hand post.
Marcus Rashford will replace him on Tuesday, turning to the Manchester United striker’s greater experience for a toughie against Tite’s ball-jugglers.
In Rashford they will have pace, so easy on the eye when he is in full flight.
Incredible as it sounds, so were England.
And they could have nicked it at the death, but substitute Lingard fired over with the last kick of the game.
