England vs Germany: H2H, Derby Rivalry, Watch Live & More
The England vs Germany football rivalry is one of the most heated in the world, with no love lost between these two European powerhouses.
Two World Wars involving each nation were the catalyst for a head-to-head that is more of an English phenomenon than a German one.
We take a closer look at England vs Germany including the H2H (stats correct – July 15, 2024), how to watch live, the history of the rivalry and more.
England vs Scotland H2H
The two nations have faced each other in 35 full internationals with England leading the H2H 14-13 and the other eight games finishing as draws.
Germany lead the way in terms of winning silverware, winning seven major titles against the one success gained by England.
Notable England vs Germany Results
- England 4-2 West Germany – World Cup – July 1966 (aet)
- West Germany 3-2 England – World Cup – June 1970 (aet)
- England 1-3 West Germany – European Championship – April/May 1972 (aggregate score)
- West Germany 1-1 England – World Cup – July 1990 (West Germany won 4-3 on penalties)
- Germany 1-1 England – European Championship – June 1996 (Germany won 6-5 on penalties)
- Germany 1-5 England – World Cup – September 2001
- Germany 4-1 England – World Cup – June 2010
- England 2-0 Germany – European Championship – June 2021
England vs Germany Live Streams
Channel 4 is the best place to watch England matches, with the broadcaster owning the rights to broadcast their games until 2024. RTL is one of the primary broadcasters for Germany.
If the two teams play in World Cup or European Championship tournaments, the games will likely be broadcast on the BBC or ITV.
There are loads of other streaming platforms that cover live international games, but you will need to use Virtual Private Network (VPN) technology to gain access.
One of the best services is Express VPN, which can be downloaded to various devices including Android, iOS, Fire TV, PC, Mac and smart TVs.
England vs Germany Derby History
English and German national teams first faced each other in November 1899, but it was another 31 years before official matches were staged.
The first full international between the two teams was a friendly match in May 1930, with a late David Jack goal securing a 3-3 draw for England.
The Three Lions triumphed in the next two meetings, but the Second World War saw the rivalry shelved until December 1954.
That match saw England triumph 3-1 against then-world champions West Germany, and they subsequently recorded victories in their next four matches.
The final result in that run was England’s 4-2 victory over their rivals in the 1966 World Cup final at Wembley Stadium.
Germany finally broke their duck against England in June 1968, when a Franz Beckenbauer goal was enough to secure a 1-0 victory.
A meeting in the quarter-finals of the 1970 World Cup is seen as a turning point in the rivalry, with West Germany battling back from a two-goal deficit to win 3-2 after extra time.
The result marked the start of England’s decline, while West Germany became a dominant force on the international stage.
The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 did little to improve England’s fortunes, with a penalty shoot-out defeat against West Germany at the World Cup the following year particularly damaging to morale.
A unified German team repeated the trick at the 1996 European Championship, defeating England on penalties before going on to win the tournament.
England’s 5-1 victory on German soil in a World Cup qualifier in September 2001 undoubtedly remains one of the most notable results this century.
A 2-0 win at the 2020 European Championship also helped England lay to rest some of the ghosts of the past, but Germany can still point to their major trophy haul to demonstrate their dominance over their rivals.
England vs Germany Controversies
The post-war meeting between the two teams in 1938 was hugely controversial, with the FA ordering England players to show respect to their hosts by giving a Nazi salute.
The Second World War saw football hostilities put on the back-burner for 16 years but inevitably sparked feelings of bitterness on the English side of the fence.
Meeting in the 1966 World Cup final was an opportunity for England to get one over their rivals, but the game was shrouded in controversy.
Both of England’s extra-time goals were disputed, but that mattered little to the home fans who were desperate to see their team emerge victorious.
Geoff Hurst’s infamous strike off the underside of the crossbar remains one of the most legendary moments in the England vs Germany rivalry.
Karma eventually caught up with England at the 2010 World Cup, with the team denied a clear goal with the game still finely poised.
Frank Lampard thought he had equalised when his shot bounced off the crossbar well into the goal and back out again, but the officials failed to spot it.
Germany took full advantage to secure a 4-1 victory – England’s heaviest-ever World Cup defeat. Unfortunately for Germany, they failed to go on and win the tournament.
More England Resources
England News | England Fixtures | England Top Scorers | World Cup Winners
More Germany Resources
