England came from two goals behind to beat world champions Germany 3-2 in Saturday night's international friendly in Berlin.
Efforts from Toni Kroos and Mario Gomez had seen the home side take a two-goal lead just before the hour, but goals from Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy levelled the scores, before Eric Dier won it for England in second-half stoppage time with a powerful header.
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Sami Khedira skippered Germany in the absence of Bastian Schweinsteiger, while it was Gomez at the tip of the attack. Kroos, Thomas Muller and Mesut Ozil also all started for the world champions, while Liverpool's Emre Can operated in the right-back position.
The two new names in the squad - Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Kevin Trapp and Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah - were both on the bench in Berlin.
As for England, there was a debut at left-back for Danny Rose and the 25-year-old was one of four Tottenham Hotspur players in the XI as Dier, Dele Alli and Kane were also named from the start.
Jack Butland was given the gloves due to the absence of Joe Hart, while was it Adam Lallana and Danny Welbeck selected in the wide positions, with Kane operating as the out-and-out centre-forward and Gary Cahill skippering from centre-back.
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Both teams had half-chances inside the opening eight minutes, but Khedira could not release a clean strike from the edge of the England box, before Three Lions skipper Cahill's close-range header hit his own teammate Kane.
Butland's first piece of work in the England goal came in the 14th minute when he palmed clear under pressure from Mats Hummels, before Alli headed straight at Manuel Neuer after meeting a Cahill pass.
Alli's midfield runs continued to create space and the Spurs midfielder fired a rising strike over the crossbar in the 17th minute during a very open start to events in Berlin.
England continued to impress in the final third with Kane finding time and space outside the Germany box, but the final pass was just lacking as it remained goalless approaching the 30-minute mark.
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Germany had the ball in the back of the net in the 27th minute when Gomez found the bottom corner with a low strike, but the linesman raised his flag. It was the wrong call though, with Nathaniel Clyne playing the striker onside.
Both teams continued to find space in the final third as the first period approached its latter stages and Kane struck over for England, before the dangerous Kroos fired over the crossbar down the other end.
Lallana also came close for England late in the first period after Can had tackled Welbeck, but the Liverpool midfielder fired over the crossbar under pressure.
Germany took the lead in the 43rd minute, however, when Kroos found the bottom corner from distance, with Butland failing to make the stop after picking up an injury moments before, which led to him being replaced before the break.
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A free kick from Marco Reus almost saw Germany take a 2-0 lead early in the second period, but Fraser Forster was not put off by the advancing Muller and managed to palm over the crossbar. Down the other end, Alli advanced to the edge of the box before trying his luck, but Neuer got down to make the stop.
In the 55th minute, Welbeck picked the pocket of Can before setting up Jordan Henderson inside the Germany box, but the Liverpool captain's strike hit Jonas Hector on its way over the crossbar.
Germany had their second in the 57th minute, however, when Gomez, on his return to international duty, got above Cahill at the far post to head a Khedira cross into the opposite corner.
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England were back in the game just four minutes later though when Kane, who had a quiet opening hour, turned inside the box before finding the bottom corner.
The visitors found a second wind after the goal and almost equalised when Alli fired one towards the bottom corner in the 68th minute after an excellent passing sequence, but his low effort was kept out by the foot of Neuer.
England were on terms in the 74th minute, however, when Vardy, who was a second-half substitute, produced a flick to turn a low Clyne cross past Neuer from inside the box and net his first international goal.
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Hodgson's team continued to press forward and had a golden chance to take the lead in the 84th minute when Vardy took advantage of some poor German defending before setting up Alli, but the teenager somehow missed the target.
The Three Lions looked the team most likely to grab a third in the final moments as the friendly headed for three additional minutes, and the goal came in the first minute of stoppage time when Dier headed a Henderson corner past Neuer.
Next up for Germany is a home match against Italy on Tuesday, while England will face Netherlands on the same night.
Matt Law
