Late John Terry goal gives England a deserved 2-1 friendly win in Germany. After taking a first half lead England gifted Germany an equaliser before the England captain made amends with his head meaning Germany have still never won against the Three Lions in Berlin.

With eight withdrawals from the England team the scene was set for those fringe players hoping to stake a claim in the side to make an impact.

And at the end of ninety minutes Fabio Capello would have been pleased with how his team performed.

England pressed Germany from the start and looked the more comfortable of the two teams, Jermaine Defoe narrowly called offside in the opening minute.

Stewart Downing was probing down the left as Michael Carrick and Gareth Barry controlled midfield.

Whilst not particularly creating many chances the threat was always there when England attacked looking for the pace of Gabby Agbonlahor to unsettle the hosts rearguard.

England took a deserved lead on 23 minutes courtesy of an error by Germany keeper Rene Adler.

Winning only his third cap the stopper failed to deal with a Downing corner and Matthew Upson slide the ball home.

Germany's only threat was from wide man Piotr Trochowski who twice forced David James to save, once from a free kick and then from a teasing cross.

Heiko Westermann should have done better and equalised with a free header as John Terry and Upson hesitated, but at the other end on the stroke of half time Downing brought a fine save from Adler.

England continued to dominate in the second half and substitute Darren Bent rounds Adler but slips and shoots wide of an open goal.

Moments later and an awful mix up between John Terry and substitute keeper Scott Carson allows Patrick Helmes to stroke the ball into an empty net.

England for a few moments looked shaky but gradually got back into the game and the outstanding Downing had a shot saved, Shaun-Wright Phillips went on a jinking run and crashed an effort against the post, then Agbonlahor burst clear to hit the side netting.

Carson regained some confidence with a fine stop from Marko Marin who was looking dangerous on the occasional German breakaways.

But England got the deserved winner their performance warranted with seven minutes remaining - Downing floated in a free kick and Terry's header did the rest and the 7,500 travelling support celebrated in the rain.

England coach Capello took a lot of positives from the game, telling ITV1, "The result was important but the performance was very, very good.

"Germany are a good team but we made a lot of chances to score goals and I liked the attitude of the team who played with confidence which is very important.

"It gave me the opportunity to look at players who don't play a lot of games and now I know more about them."

The Italian tactician was reluctant to name the players who caught his eye stressing it was a team game.

"I only talk about the team and all the players played well."