DORTMUND: Sometimes, there really is a fairy-tale ending.

Germany’s Lukas Podolski capped his international swansong in style on Wednesday smashing home the winning goal with his trusty left boot to seal a 1-0 friendly victory over England.

Podolski, who captained the team for the first time, could not have hoped for a more fitting finale to his 13-year Germany career, as he hammered the ball to the top right corner from 25 metres in the 69th minute to take his goal tally to 49 in 130 international matches.

England goalkeeper Joe Hart was given no chance, and the Galatasaray forward, who joins Japan’s Vissel Kobe next season, had a look of incredulity as he wheeled away to celebrate.

“I don’t know how much he paid for the England goalkeeper to let it in,” World Cup-winning team-mate Thomas Mueller joked. “I couldn’t have written a better script. It would be too cheesy for me as a director. No one would believe it.”

The 31-year-old’s goal ensured an enterprising England suffered a bitter defeat having looked sharper than their hosts for much of the game and hit the woodwork in the first half.

“It’s like a movie, the way it happened today. We win and I score the winning goal,” a beaming Podolski told reporters. “God or whoever gave me a left foot and it has served me well over the years. It was a great game, a great result and a great way to say goodbye.”

Podolski had been honored before the game and had his name chanted by fans during the match. He received a standing ovation when he went off in the closing stages, and he joined fans to return their affection after the game.

“That gave me goosebumps to get a reception like that,” added Podolski.

Only 1990 World Cup-winning captain Lothar Matthaeus and all-time top-scorer Miroslav Klose have made more appearances for Germany.

“Special players deserve a special farewell. It’s great for him,” Germany coach Joachim Loew said.

Before kick-off England coach Gareth Southgate paid tribute to the victims of Wednesday’s London terror attack and said there was no question of cancelling the match.

Southgate, who took the decision to drop Manchester United star Wayne Rooney from his squad, fielded a new-look side who might have won the game, but lacked a clinical edge in front of goal.

“I take a lot of encouragement from that despite the result,” said Southgate. “It’s never nice to lose, but I have to be pleased with the way the players played and how the tactical system worked.

“I thought we were the better side up until their winning goal. All that was missing was the finish to get the winning goal I felt we deserved.”

It was England’s first defeat in their sixth game since Euro 2016.

The Germans, who set a national record with their seventh consecutive clean sheet, also gained revenge for a 3-2 loss to England almost a year ago to the day.

“If you’re looking at chances we had the better chances it’s as simple as that,” England captain Gary Cahill said. “We will look back and reflect and if we take our chances, we win that game.” “It’s a learning curve. We played well today, especially first half.”

Both teams have important World Cup qualifiers on Sunday.

England, who top Group ‘F’, host Lithuania at Wembley on the road to Russia 2018 while Germany, five points clear at the top of Group ‘C’, travel to Azerbaijan.

Results:

At Usti-nad-Labam, Czech Republic:

Czech Republic 3Lithuania 0

At Nicosia:

Cyprus 3Kazakhstan 1

At Dortmund:

Germany 1England 0

At Edinburgh:

Scotland 1Canada 1

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2017