Germany maintained their Wembley soccer hoodoo over England yesterday, coming from behind to win 2-1 in an entertaining friendly.
The visitors became the first team to beat England in the rebuilt stadium after first-half goals from Kevin Kuranyi and new player Christian Pander cancelled out Frank Lampard's earlyopener.
Germany, who also won the last match played in the old stadium in October 2000, recorded their sixth victory over England since 1972.
"It's always fantastic to win in England," said keeper Jens Lehmann.
"We were the last team to win here and now we're the first to win here. That's special."
Germany's coach, Joachim Loew, was without most of his first-choice team. Captain Michael Ballack headed a long injury list that also contained Bastian Schweinsteiger, Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski.
England were also missing several players, including Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney and Owen Hargreaves.
The home side opened the scoring from good work by teenage right-back Micah Richards after nine minutes.
Richards beat Pander to set up Lampard, who lashed the ball past Lehmann for his 13th international goal on his 56th appearance.
Germany levelled after 26 minutes when keeper Paul Robinson parried a cross by captain Bernd Schneider and Kuranyi tapped the ball in.
Pander put Germany in front five minutes before halftime when he powered an unstoppable 25m left-foot shot past Robinson.
England carried the game to Germany after the break, and went close to an equaliser in the 66th minute when David Beckham - winning his 97th cap - crossed for substitute Kieron Dyer to shoot wide from close range.
Kuranyi went close for Germany again and Michael Owen, lacking sharpness after his long injury lay-off, worked hard to find an equaliser for England.
