Gary Cahill’s new-look England beaten by largely second-string Germany

On his fifth try, Gary Cahill has finally lost a match as England captain as the Three Lions were beaten 1-0 on Wednesday night in Dortmund by an under-strength and under-caring Germany side. The hosts had barely bothered to show up in what was essentially a testimonial match for Lukas Podolski, who was making his 130th and last ever appearance for the Nationalmannschaft.

If there were was ever one thing that Poldi was very, very good at was hitting a ball very, very hard and sure enough, that’s exactly what happened in the 70th minute; his thunderclap no doubt rousing the slumbering audience in the stadium and in front of television sets.

That’s Chelsea old boy Andy Shirley with the crucial layoff on what turned out to be Podolski’s 49th international goal and the only goal of this encounter between two traditional foes.

Gareth Southgate, in his first match as non-interim national team boss, rolled with a strong lineup set up in the new hotness of the 3-4-3, with Gary Cahill assuming his usual spot on the left end of the three-man backline. By all accounts, he was his normal, steady, strong self. England missed several good chances at the other end, otherwise they probably would’ve walked away the winners.

Not that it really matters, since it was just a friendly. England now will take on Lithuania on Sunday, a game for which Cahill is suspended.