England struck twice late on to end a 55-year wait for a knockout tie victory over Germany amid scenes of huge tension and elation to reach the Euro 2020 quarter-finals at Wembley.
Gareth Southgate's side battled hard to earn the statement victory that has so often eluded England, and it was their talisman of this tournament, Raheem Sterling, who made the decisive breakthrough.
Sterling, who scored the winners against Croatia and the Czech Republic in the group stage, steered in Luke Shaw's cross after 75 minutes to send England's fans, with more than 40,000 inside Wembley, into wild celebrations.
The win was secured with another moment of significance four minutes from time when captain Harry Kane, who had once again struggled to influence the game, headed in from substitute Jack Grealish's perfect delivery for his first goal of Euro 2020.
England were once again thankful for the brilliance of Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who has yet to concede a goal in the tournament and saved crucially from Timo Werner and Kai Havertz in each half, while Thomas Muller missed a glorious chance to equalise before Kane struck.
Southgate's side will now face either Sweden or Ukraine in the quarter-finals in Rome on Saturday - live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Southgate's biggest result
Southgate's team selection once again raised eyebrows when he decided to leave the creative talents of Grealish and Phil Foden on the bench and showed huge faith in Arsenal teenager Bukayo Saka by starting him after his fine performance against the Czechs.
Saka was excellent, the early spark when England struggled, while Grealish added the crucial X factor when he came off the bench to finally help break Germany down.
The scenes at the final whistle demonstrated just how important this win is for Southgate and England, digging deep and surviving periods of struggle to overcome the old rivals who have so often got the better of them in situations like this.
And this may just rank as the biggest and most important of Southgate's time in charge.
The last 16 was round that carried so much jeopardy for England when the draw was made, with the knowledge that topping their group would likely mean a meeting with the ever-dangerous Germany, World Cup holders France or reigning European champions Portugal.
While Group F minnows Hungary very nearly caused a huge upset, in the end it was Germany who confronted them and Southgate, who must tired of seeing replays of his penalty miss against them in the Euro 96 semi-final, now has a happy memory to cherish, not to mention a potentially favourable route forward in this tournament.
England will feel confident but not complacent against Sweden or Ukraine, and the shock exit of France to Switzerland shows no-one can be taken lightly.
But this win, against these opponents, will be of huge psychological value as England move forward into the last eight.
Kane finally comes good
Just how important will that second goal from Kane prove to be for both Southgate's captain and England's hopes of winning Euro 2020?
Kane, once again, looked a shadow of his world-class self as he laboured to have any meaningful involvement against Germany as nerves grew around Wembley with the clock ticking on.
He failed to pounce on a scramble in first-half injury time and often looked a forlorn figure as he tried to make his mark.
At one stage it looked like he may have to come off injured but he recovered and his contribution in the last 15 minutes may just be the turning point for a striker so trusted by his manager.
Kane played a part in the opening goal as he linked up with Grealish and Shaw for Sterling to finish the job - but the big moment came with the goal that settled this game.
Grealish, so confident when he came on, sent in the perfect cross to find Kane in the six-yard area to head home.
The mixture of joy and relief in his expression was obvious, as was the delight of his team-mates who know what he can bring.
If this is the game where Kane finally sprang to life, everyone in England's camp will be aware of just what a difference he will make at the business end of Euro 2020.
Pickford and Maguire make their mark
England had question marks over their defence before the start of Euro 2020 with Manchester United captain Harry Maguire carrying an injury and Southgate still working out his best personnel.
Here he switched to a three-man central defence with Kieran Trippier and Shaw as full-backs and it worked as England kept an impressive fourth clean sheet to maintain their flawless record in the tournament.
And at the heart of it all has been the rejuvenated goalkeeper Pickford, who has emerged from a slump in form at Everton to show exactly why Southgate's faith has never wavered.
Pickford has made crucial saves throughout the tournament but this game was his best yet as he raced from his line to block Timo Werner in the first half then showed great athleticism to turn over Havertz's rising drive with the scoreline still blank after the interval.
Maguire was another important figure and also showed why Southgate regards him as someone he can always count on.
Now fully fit after an ankle injury, he showed great authority alongside John Stones while adding an extra dimension at set-pieces and with his ability to bring the ball out of defence.
These have been two huge pluses for Southgate as he now tries to plot a way past Sweden or Ukraine.
15 in 20 for Sterling - the best of the stats
Raheem Sterling is only the second player to score each of England's first three goals at a major tournament, after Gary Lineker did so at the 1986 World CupEngland defeated Germany in a competitive game at Wembley for the first time since the 1966 World Cup final, having been winless in their previous three such encounters.They are only the second side in European Championship history not to concede in any of their first four games of an edition of the tournament, after Germany in 2016. The only previous time England did so at any major tournament (World Cup & Euros) was at the 1966 World Cup.This was England's 300th international match at Wembley stadium, while they remain unbeaten in 15 games at this venue in major tournaments, winning 10 of them.Germany have only won one of their last six games at the Euros (D2 L3), failing to keep a clean sheet in all six games in this run.Sterling has now scored 15 goals in his last 20 appearances in all competitions for England, after going 27 games without finding the net prior to this run.Kane has now scored 30 goals for England under Southgate; in the national side's history, only Lineker scored more while playing under a single manager (35 under Bobby Robson). Kane equalled Wayne Rooney for goals scored at major tournaments for England (7), with only Lineker (10) and Alan Shearer (9) netting more across the World Cup & Euros for the Three Lions. Muller has appeared in each of Germany's last 26 games at major tournaments; the joint-longest streak of any player for the national side, along with Mesut Ozil (26 between 2010 and 2018).Bukayo Saka (19y 297d) became the youngest starter for England in a knockout game at a major tournament since Wayne Rooney at Euro 2004, in the quarter-final against Portugal (18y 244d).
Player of the match
PickfordJordan Pickford
Line-ups
England
Formation 3-4-3
1Pickford
2Walker5Stones6Maguire
12Trippier14Phillips4Rice3Shaw
25Saka9Kane10Sterling
1Pickford2Walker5Stones6MaguireBooked at 77mins12Trippier14PhillipsBooked at 45mins4RiceBooked at 8minsSubstituted forHendersonat 88'minutes3Shaw25SakaSubstituted forGrealishat 69'minutes9Kane10SterlingSubstitutes
7Grealish8Henderson11Rashford13Ramsdale15Mings16Coady17Sancho19Mount20Foden23Johnstone24James26BellinghamGermany
Formation 3-4-2-1
1Neuer
4Ginter5Hummels2Rüdiger
6Kimmich8Kroos18Goretzka20Gosens
7Havertz25Müller
11Werner
1Neuer4GinterBooked at 25minsSubstituted forCanat 87'minutes5Hummels2Rüdiger6Kimmich8Kroos18Goretzka20GosensBooked at 72minsSubstituted forSanéat 87'minutes7Havertz25MüllerSubstituted forMusialaat 90+2'minutes11WernerSubstituted forGnabryat 68'minutesSubstitutes
3Halstenberg9Volland10Gnabry12Leno14Musiala15Süle17Neuhaus19Sané21Gündogan22Trapp23Can24KochReferee:Danny MakkelieAttendance:41,973Live Text
Match ends, England 2, Germany 0.
Second Half ends, England 2, Germany 0.
Kai Havertz (Germany) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Kyle Walker (England).
Substitution, Germany. Jamal Musiala replaces Thomas Müller.
Attempt missed. Leon Goretzka (Germany) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left.
Attempt missed. Leon Goretzka (Germany) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right.
Substitution, England. Jordan Henderson replaces Declan Rice.
Substitution, Germany. Leroy Sané replaces Robin Gosens.
Substitution, Germany. Emre Can replaces Matthias Ginter.
Goal! England 2, Germany 0. Harry Kane (England) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jack Grealish.
Offside, England. Kieran Trippier tries a through ball, but Raheem Sterling is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Thomas Müller (Germany) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Kai Havertz with a through ball following a fast break.
Attempt blocked. Thomas Müller (Germany) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Harry Maguire (England) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Joshua Kimmich (Germany) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Harry Maguire (England).
Goal! England 1, Germany 0. Raheem Sterling (England) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Luke Shaw.
Robin Gosens (Germany) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Robin Gosens (Germany).
