It was the national side’s first knockout win over the Germans in a major tournament since their 1966 World Cup win.

The two sides went head-to-head in front of 45,000 England fans in their national stadium.

To clarify, England were the only side with home advantage in the last 16.

Both sides set up in 3-4-3 formations with the Germans opting for an attacking variant of the formation and Gareth Southgate choosing to set his side up in the opposite.

However, Southgate’s plan worked quite well as wing-backs Trippier and Shaw locked down the ever-so-dangerous duo of Joshua Kimmich and Robin Gosens.

The first half was a tense, cagey affair with both sides having the ability to attack but not the ability to finish.

Timo Werner missed a golden opportunity to put his country in the lead but Harry Kane outdid his miss, failing to convert from inside the six-yard box.

Borussia Dortmund’s Mats Hummels was the reason he could not, putting in a fantastic last-ditch tackle to keep the side’s level and scoreless at the break.

Mats. Maschine. Mega. pic.twitter.com/kscfXM5A2p

— Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) June 29, 2021

Germany dominated possession for much of the second half but failed to fashion a quality chance.

Southgate’s defensive structure irritated the German’s with seven defensive-minded outfield players on the pitch for England.

Jack Grealish was brought on for Bukayo Saka in the 69th minute and suddenly England were able to threaten the German back three.

It must be said that Saka’s energy for those 69 minutes helped the situation as he tired defenders out with his pace.

The Matthias Ginter – Mats Hummels axis was exposed by Grealish, who worked well with Kane and Shaw to stretch them while Raheem Sterling ran into space to slot home the opener in the 75th minute.

Sterling’s ability to get in behind defenders with ease has led to all three of his goals in the competition so far.

His tendency to receive the ball from deep and dribble inside started the move he finished off.

Chelsea wonderboy Kai Havertz put Thomas Muller through in a quick counter-attack just minutes later but the Bayern star put his shot wide.

Shaw and Grealish were involved in the killer blow for Germany after Muller’s miss, with Shaw finding Grealish in the position the wing-back was in earlier and the Villa star finding Kane who headed the ball in.

Ginter’s positioning for both goals was abysmal and he gave too much space to the goalscorers.

Germany failed to break through the English defences and reply to the two unanswered goals, ending their Euro 2020 run as it began – with a timid loss.

The curtains have closed on Joachim Low’s Germany reign after the exit.

In contrast, Southgate and his men march on with an increased chance of going all the way after their performance.

England will face Ukraine at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday, July 3rd at 20:00.

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Andriy Shevchenko’s side came into the game as the underdogs in the eyes of the bookies but sustained early pressure led to an opener courtesy of City left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko.

A sumptuous ball from forward Andriy Yarmolenko put it on a plate for the 24-year-old, who volleyed it beyond Sweden goalkeeper Robin Olsen.

Seb Larsson almost caught out Ukraine’s keeper Heorhiy Bushchan with a quick free-kick but the Ukrainian saved his blushes.

A few minutes before half-time, Alexander Isak laid the ball off for Sweden’s top scorer at Euro 2020, Emil Forsberg, who fired home from 25 yards out.

The Swede’s goal brought his tally for the tournament up to four, one behind current top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo and the Swedish single major tournament record holder Kennet Andersson.

3 – Emil Forsberg is the first Swedish player to score in three consecutive major tournament appearances since Kennet Andersson at the 1994 World Cup, who is also the only Swedish player to net more at a single major tournament than Forsberg's 4 at #EURO2020 (5 in 1994). Streak. pic.twitter.com/g9qA4l0n0b

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 29, 2021

Sweden showed their quality in the second half, dominating the game and coming close to finding a winner several times.

Forsberg hit the woodwork twice while Juventus prospect Dejan Kulusevski forced a save from Bushchan and could not convert a late chance.

The final last 16 tie of Euro 2020 became the fourth to go to extra time – the most-ever in a single knockout round in the competition.

Extra-time saw things change for the worse for the Scandinavians when their centre-back Marcus Danielson saw red for a reckless studs-up tackle.

It was the Swede’s first red card of his international career – a yellow was given at first before a VAR review changed referee Daniele Orsato’s mind.

Ukraine’s man-advantage helped them to gain momentum and retain possession throughout extra time.

Atalanta’s Ruslan Malinovskyi came close to scoring but scuffed his shot wide.

As the clock ticked and the full-time whistle for the end of extra-time drew near, penalties appeared to be the most likely option.

However, a stunning cross from Zinchenko found the head of Artem Dovbyk who headed in the winner in the dying moments of the game to make history for Ukraine.

121 – Timed at 120:37, Artem Dovbyk has scored the second-latest goal in European Championship history, behind Semih Sentürk v Croatia in 2008 (121:01), and the latest match-winning strike in the competition, overtaking Michel Platini v Portugal in 1984 (118:53). Gasp. #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/LAXcVAAvxw

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 29, 2021

Andriy Shevchenko’s side will be the first Ukraine side in the last eight of the European Championships, having become the first to reach the last 16 after their successful group stage.

Sweden failed to deliver on the promise of their Group E win and will go home without the chance to get revenge on England for their 2018 World Cup quarter-final loss.

Ukraine will play England on Saturday, July 3rd at the Stadio Olimpico at 8:00 pm.

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