The miracle of Berlin: Kane, Vardy and Dier help superb England come back from two goals down to beat world champs in Germany

Germany 2-3 England: Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy and Eric Dier score to ensure Three Lions

Germany 2 - England 3: Dier, Vardy and Kane complete stunning comeback win in Berlin

It won’t count for anything come the summer and it will be quickly forgotten if all goes awry in France. And yet a youthful England team delivered a quite stunning comeback at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium against the world champions which demanded acclaim.

When Eric Dier rose above Andre Schurrle and emphatically headed home in the 90th minute, England recorded their third successive win on German soil. More pointedly, they had turned around a game which looked lost at 2-0 down on 58 minutes.

As it was, their German hosts were the ones jeered off having surrendered their lead and England who had delivered a healthy dose of optimism in the run up to Euro 2016.

Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos (left) is congratulated by Sami Khedira and Mesut Ozil after scoring in the first half

MATCH FACTS

GERMANY (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Can, Hummels (Tah 46mins), Rudiger, Hector; Khedira, Kroos; Muller (Podolski 75), Ozil, Reus (Schurrle 64); Gomez (Gotze 79)

Subs not used: Leno, Mustafi, Rudy, Ginter, Kramer, Draxler, Bellarabi, Volland, Ter Stegen, Trapp

Goals: Kroos 43, Gomez 57

Booked: Can

ENGLAND (4-2-3-1): Butland (Forster 45+1); Clyne, Cahill, Smalling, Rose; Henderson, Dier; Lallana (Barkley 71), Alli, Welbeck (Vardy 71); Kane

Subs not used: Walker, Walcott, Stones, Jagielka, Milner, Drinkwater, Sturridge, Heaton

Goals: Kane 61, Vardy 75, Dier 90

Booked: Dier

Referee: Gianluca Rocchi (Italy)

Goalscorer Vardy replaces Welbeck in the 71st minute before playing a major role in England's impressive comeback victory

Roy Hodgson will be hugely encouraged though he won’t know quite what to make of a game which fluctuated like the weather on an English spring day. England had an attacking ingenuity rarely seen; yet they had a defensive naivety which is all too often observed.

In fact, England’s young experimental side attacked with such gusto and created so many opportunities that the coming days will be dominated by just where the absent captain, Wayne Rooney, fits into this team.

Harry Kane and Dele Alli suddenly looked established England stars; Jamie Vardy, too, when he came on. Danny Welbeck simply resumed where he left off his England career, offering consistent excellence.

And had Alli been able to crown a fine performance on 83 minutes, when teed up by the excellent Vardy for the simplest of chances, England might have secured the lead earlier. As it was, they chose their moment well, with Dier heading home in the 90th minute.

Germany and England players line up as they sing their respective national anthems ahead of the friendly match in Berlin

England had apparently forgotten their proper kit and were wearing some pale red and maroon abomination. At least, initially, on the pitch, they were more pleasing on the eye. There was some notable progress in the early stages with Dier dropping into what effectively became a back three at times to distribute the ball from the back to give the team shape desired flexibility.

Alli resumed international duties with the fearlessness and application of a man many years his senior. Adam Lallana harried and hassled his German counterparts. Welbeck looked lively. England looked almost like a modern international team. Germany were less impressive early on, cumbersome in their distribution and not terribly fluent. Neither side was electrifying, however. It all had the feel of the prelude rather than the big event itself.

courtesy mailsports