Pickford and Sane shine as England draws with Germany

There were no goals but plenty of encouraging performances from both sides as England and Germany drew at Wembley on Friday.

Germany's Leroy Sane tussles with Phil Jones of England during the teams' clash on Friday.

England held world champion Germany at Wembley as two experimental sides played out a 0-0 draw in their first friendly since sealing World Cup qualification.

The Three Lions had been expected to feel the absence of key men Dele Alli, Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane, among others, while Joachim Low's visitor was similarly missing stars Manuel Neuer, Leon Goretzka and Thomas Muller.

But there was no lack of quality on display in a match that was more entertaining than the scoreline suggested, as the in-form Leroy Sane starred for Germany and struck the woodwork with the best effort of the first half.

Read: Low satisfied with Germany's performance

Jordan Pickford, making his senior debut for Gareth Southgate's men, deserved that slice of luck as he turned in a determined performance, keeping out Timo Werner on multiple occasions.

Chances at the other end were considerably more scarce, but Ruben Loftus-Cheek also impressed in his England bow, with the host looking increasingly relaxed in a new-look 3-5-2 formation as the game wore on before substitute Jesse Lingard wasted a super chance to win it at the death.

READ: Loftus-Cheek targeting World Cup place after impressive England debut

Considering the talk of farce at the host's numerous withdrawals from the squad, this ended up being a handy workout for Southgate and his side against top-class opposition, with Brazil the next opponent in London on Tuesday, when Germany is also at home in another glamour friendly against France.

England has now gone five matches without defeat, while Germany has not lost in 20 games since Euro 2016.

Two England debutants were instantly in the thick of the action as Pickford was forced to rush from his line to challenge Timo Werner inside the opening minute, before a low left-wing centre just evaded the advancing Tammy Abraham at the other end.

Sane thrashed wide of Pickford's goal following a pass from Germany's own new boy Marcel Halstenberg, but the Manchester City winger continued to trouble the England defence.

He curled a wonderful effort against the underside of the crossbar when given time and space 20 yards out, before Sane threatened again in Germany's next attack of note when, with the goalkeeper beaten, he saw Phil Jones brilliantly block his strike in front of the line after a rebound from Werner's saved shot had fallen into his path.

That proved to be the end for Jones as further injury misfortune for Southgate required the introduction of another newcomer in Joe Gomez, who then lost the lively Werner and watched on with some relief as Pickford saved superbly.

Abraham's first real sight of goal so nearly led to the opener as England ended the first half on the front foot, but a deflected effort looped just wide.

The interval did not disrupt the momentum England had started to build and only Marc-Andre ter Stegen's strong right arm kept a Jamie Vardy header out shortly after the restart.

That preceded the game's quietest spell as Germany monopolised possession, with Loftus-Cheek only occasionally prompting a counter-attack, as a series of substitutions slowed play further heading into the closing stages.

England could well have stolen victory with the last kick of the game as Lingard lashed a close-range finish over the crossbar after Harry Maguire had headed substitute Marcus Rashford's free-kick into his path.

That meant both sides had to make do with a draw that should offer each of the coaches some encouragement as next year's tournament in Russia begins to move into view.

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