Match ends, Germany 0, England 0.
GermanyGermany0EnglandEngland0
England followed up their World Cup victory over Germany with a hard-earned goalless draw with the European champions in Duisburg.
The Lionesses beat Silvia Neid's team to third place in Canada and they wasted chances to earn another win as Demi Stokes and Jill Scott went close.
But England's Karen Bardsley was the busier goalkeeper, with Germany's best chance falling to Dzsenifer Marozsan.
England host Bosnia-Herzegovina in their Euro 2017 qualifier on Sunday.
The match at Bristol City's Ashton Gate ground kicks off at 15:30 GMT and will be the team's first home appearance since the World Cup.
England's defence is unlikely to be tested in the same manner as it was against Germany, who also saw Babett Peter's effort whistle past the post.
It was a result achieved despite most of England's players finishing their domestic league campaign last month and the majority of Germany's squad still in the middle of their season.
Lionesses reverse fortunes inside a year
These two sides last met just over a year ago at Wembley when England limped away 3-0 losers with Germany dominating from start to finish.
It was a hard lesson for the Lionesses to learn as it marked their first match at the new Wembley and was watched by a record crowd of 45,619.
This draw in Germany was a different story, with England finally showing they can stand up to the best teams in the world.
Admittedly, their efforts on goal were limited and Germany looked the more likely to score but England kept their composure, worked hard to break up play in midfield and defended stoutly.
Beating Germany at the World Cup to claim the bronze medal - their first victory over them in 21 attempts - has given Sampson's side confidence and they no longer look intimidated when facing teams ranked above them.
This result cements their fifth place in Fifa's world rankings, three places behind Germany.
Does Sampson know his strongest side?
In almost two years in charge, Sampson has called up 49 different players, using 38 of them and handed debuts to players such as Danielle Carter and Isobel Christiansen.
He has also re-introduced players such as Katie Chapman and Lianne Sanderson after they fell out of favour under previous boss Hope Powell. And while it has been refreshing to see so many players given a chance under Sampson, he still seems some way off settling on his strongest side.
Once again he made wholesale changes for this game, with five players coming into the side.
Using left-back Demi Stokes in a wide attacking role was an unusual choice, particularly when he had several other forwards on the bench such as Jess Clarke and Gemma Davison, but it was a decision that appeared to pay off as the Manchester City defender looked lively from the start.
Starting Chelsea defender Gilly Flahetry in a centre-back partnership with captain Steph Houghton also shows that Sampson is yet to settle on his strongest back four. A clean sheet, however, shows that he got it right.
Player of the match: Jill Scott
What's next?
England's match against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Sunday is being billed as a long-awaited 'homecoming' after claiming the bronze medal in Canada. It is their second qualifying game of the campaign, having won their first match 8-0 in Estonia.
England are favourites to top Group 7 and Bosnia-Herzegovina are 72nd in the world rankings.
Line-ups
Germany
Formation 4-4-2
- 12Benkarth
- 4Maier
- 5Krahn
- 14Peter
- 8Rauch
- 15BlasseSubstituted forDäbritzat 45'minutes
- 20Goeßling
- 7BehringerSubstituted forLeupolzat 45'minutes
- 6LaudehrSubstituted forKemmeat 45'minutes
- 18MagullSubstituted forIslackerat 45'minutes
- 11MittagSubstituted forMarozsanat 67'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Cramer
- 9Islacker
- 10Marozsan
- 16Leupolz
- 17Demann
- 21Weiß
- 22Kemme
- 23Däbritz
- 24Doorsoun-Khajeh
England
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Bardsley
- 2Bronze
- 5HoughtonBooked at 19mins
- 6Flaherty
- 3Greenwood
- 10Scott
- 4WilliamsSubstituted forChristiansenat 68'minutes
- 8Nobbs
- 7KirbySubstituted forClarkeat 75'minutes
- 9TaylorSubstituted forDugganat 75'minutes
- 11Stokes
Substitutes
- 12Turner
- 13Telford
- 14Stoney
- 15Rose
- 16Bassett
- 17Christiansen
- 18Davison
- 19Clarke
- 20Duggan
- 21Laws
- 22Aluko
- 23White
- Referee:
- Esther Staubli
- Attendance:
- 6,705
Match Stats
Home TeamGermanyAway TeamEngland
- Possession
- Home53%
- Away47%
- Shots
- Home11
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away3
- Corners
- Home3
- Away0
- Fouls
- Home5
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Germany 0, England 0.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jill Scott (England) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Toni Duggan.
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Foul by Lena Goeßling (Germany).
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Jill Scott (England) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Jill Scott (England) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
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Foul by Melanie Leupolz (Germany).
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Jessica Clarke (England) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Attempt saved. Alex Greenwood (England) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
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Foul by Lena Goeßling (Germany).
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Jordan Nobbs (England) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Attempt saved. Dzsenifer Marozsan (Germany) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Lena Goeßling with a cross.
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Corner, Germany. Conceded by Karen Bardsley.
Substitution
Substitution, England. Jessica Clarke replaces Francesca Kirby.
Substitution
Substitution, England. Toni Duggan replaces Jodie Taylor.
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Attempt saved. Melanie Leupolz (Germany) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Hand ball by Demi Stokes (England).
Substitution
Substitution, England. Isobel Christiansen replaces Fara Williams.
Substitution
Substitution, Germany. Dzsenifer Marozsan replaces Anja Mittag.
Post update
Attempt saved. Melanie Leupolz (Germany) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
