Classic games between England and Germany

As Gary Lineker once said, "football is a simple game; 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans win."

England, arguably in more heart-breaking fashion than anyone else, have often found this to be the case. However, that's not to say the Three Lions have never tasted any success against Die Mannschaft - we all remember 1966 (or at least our dads and granddads telling us about it) after all.

Two of football's proudest nations face off against each other once more in Euro 2020's round of 16 and, ahead of that mammoth clash, we at 90min thought we'd run you through some of the most thrilling clashes between the sides in post-war times.

1. England 4-2 Germany (AET) - July 1966

Let's start with the big one.

England's only major tournament triumph came at the 1966 World Cup on home soil.

2-2 at full time, Geoff Hurst bagged two extra-time goals to make it 4-2 and claim a World Cup-winning hat-trick against Germany at Wembley.

Did it go over the line? Who cares?

2. Germany 3-2 England - June 1970

Just four years later, a quarter final clash at the 1970 World Cup between the two sides went to extra time too.

Franz Beckenbauer and Uwe Seeler goals cancelled out earlier strikes from England's Alan Mullery and Martin Peters, before legendary striker Gerd Muller notched an extra-time winner to send Die Mannschaft through to the semi-finals.

3. England 1-3 Germany - April 1972

Two years after, Germany won a two-legged quarter final tie with England at Euro 1972 in the first leg.

Uli Hoeness, Gunter Netzer and (of course) Muller goals saw Die Mannschaft win 3-1 at Wembley before a 0-0 second leg in Berlin. The Germans would later go on to win the whole tournament - those are the rules, according to Lineker.

4. Germany 1-1 England (4-3 on penalties) - July 1990

This is where it gets teary.

No country fears penalty shoot-outs more than England, and the 1990 World Cup in Italy is probably why.

Things looked good when Lineker's 81st minute equaliser made it 1-1 and sent the game into extra time. A further 30 minutes were not enough to settle things, so the semi-final went to penalties.

The Three Lions' stint at Italia '90 ended there, as Germany came away 4-3 winners on penalties and progressed to the final.

5. England 1-1 Germany (5-6 on penalties) - June 1996

Here we go again.

History repeated itself six years later as Germany knocked England out of Euro '96 in a semi-final penalty shoot-out.

What was written in the stars did not materialise as England, who were on home soil again, failed to recreate the glory of 30 years prior and were dumped out of the European Championships courtesy of a 6-5 loss on penalties - with Gareth Southgate famously missing the crucial kick.

6. Germany 1-5 England - September 2001

A bit of payback, anyone?

Just over five years after that horrible night at Wembley, England ran riot in Munich.

Carsten Jancker's sixth minute opener set the tone for another dreary defeat for England, but the away side turned things around dramatically thanks to goals from Steven Gerrard and Emile Heskey, as well as a hat-trick from Michael Owen to seal a stunning 5-1 victory.

7. Germany 4-1 England - June 2010

And normal order resumes.

The 2010 World Cup round of 16 clash between Germany and England will forever be remembered (in England, anyway) for the controversial - and blatantly wrong - decision to not award Frank Lampard with a goal that would have made it 2-2 in the first half.

We all remember how far over the line it was, I'm sure.

As it turned out, Matthew Upson's goal was made useless by goals from Miroslav Klose, Lukas Podolski and a brace form Thomas Muller to break England hearts in South Africa.

8. Germany 2-3 England - March 2016

Just to end on a high note, let's look at the clash between the two sides in 2016.

Yes, it was a friendly fixture, but it's a thrilling win against Germany on German soil - so what's not to love? The fact that Toni Kroos and Mario Gomez had put Die Mannschaft 2-0 up after an hour makes the victory all the more impressive too.

Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy strikes levelled the scores before Eric Dier stoppage time goal gave the Three Lions a wonderful comeback win in Berlin.