Gary Lineker’s saying couldn’t be more appropriate, once again.
“Football is a simple game. 22 men chase the ball around and at the end, the Germans always win.”
And tonight was no different, with Germany Under-21s sealing their place in the European Championship final by beating England on penalties, in the most predictable result this season.
Germany took the lead in the 35th minute through Davie Selke, who placed a header past Jordan Pickford from seven yards out.
The young Germans were in control, but England, who were confident in attack, levelled the game through Demarai Gray six minutes later, tapping in from close range after Calum Chambers’ header had been well saved.
With the scores level at half-time, England took a surprise lead early in the second half, after sterling work from Will Hughes down the right saw him slide in Tammy Abraham, who poked in to give the Three Lions the lead.
The lead wasn’t to last for too long, as Schalke striker Felix Platte sent a bullet header past Pickford to make the scores 2-2.
Platte was in the thick of it again eight minutes later, but his header was flagged for offside despite him appearing level.
The game entered extra time, and the half hour passed without major incident.
Which meant, as sure as night follows day, a game in a major tournament between England and Germany was going to penalties.
And, well, we don’t really need to tell you the rest.
Nathan Redmond was the unlucky man to miss the final penalty as Germany progressed through to the final, with the young Three Lions packing their bags and heading home.
And, predictably, everyone was saying the same thing online as we saw yet another England team get knocked out on spot-kicks by the Germans.