Jack Butland carried off on a stretcher in tears moments after injured England goalkeeper gifted opening goal to Germany

Jack Butland had been given chance to impress by Joe Hart’s calf injury
The 23-year-old Stoke stopper was making his third appearance in Berlin
He injured his leg in the build-up to Toni Kroos giving Germany the lead
Eric Dier, Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy scored in 3-2 victory for England

Published:
21:09 GMT, 26 March 2016

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Updated:
02:16 GMT, 27 March 2016

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Jack Butland’s big chance to grab the England No 1 shirt ended in disaster as the injured goalkeeper was carried off on a stretcher moments after being at fault for Germany’s opening goal.

The 23-year-old Stoke stopper was making his third appearance in Berlin after first choice Joe Hart had been ruled out on Saturday’s friendly by a calf injury.

But Butland appeared to hurt his leg as he went to collect a through ball just before half-time.

Jack Butland was carried off on a stretcher moments after being at fault for Germany’s opening goal

Butland was in tears after being carried just before half-time in Saturday’s friendly in Berlin

Butland could have gone down and stopped the game to receive treatment but he decided to play on and his weak clearance was picked up by Mesut Ozil.

The Arsenal midfielder played the ball to Toni Kroos and the Real Madrid ace fizzed a long-range strike which beat Butland at his near post.

Butland received treatment on the pitch from England physio Gary Lewin before being carried off on stretcher and was replaced by Fraser Forster.

The goalkeeper appeared to hurt his leg as he went to collect a through ball just before half-time

Butland could have gone down and stopped the game to receive treatment but he decided to play on

Butland was hobbling as his weak clearance was picked up by Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil

Southampton keeper Forster was soon called into action to tip over a Marco Reus free-kick.

Keen not to be outdone, Manuel Neuer stopped Alli’s powerful drive sneaking into the bottom corner before Henderson saw a close-range effort blocked.

The hosts would strike the next blow, though, as Khedira was afforded too much time and clipped a lovely ball over to Gomez, who expertly steered a header past Forster.

It was a great goal that looked likely to end the fixture as a contest, only for Kane to halve the deficit.

Butland was out of position as Toni Kroos beat him at his near post for Germany’s opening goal

Butland was unable to carry on and he had to be carried off on a stretcher just before half-time

A wonderful Cruyff turn, two days after the death of the Holland great, created space and gave the in-form Spurs striker the chance to impressively fire home past Neuer from an acute angle.

Teenage midfielder Dele Alli was denied by Neuer’s feet as England looked for a leveller which arrived in the most stunning of fashions.

Substitute Ross Barkley played the ball out wide to Nathaniel Clyne, whose low cross was turned home brilliantly by Jamie Vardy just minutes after coming on.

Henderson struck wide from distance as England threatened a winner, which Alli looked certain to get when Vardy’s cutback left the impressive teenager with a gaping goal.

Somehow he shot over when the 4,100 visiting fans were expecting the net to bulge, but they could celebrate wildly in stoppage-time as Eric Dier headed home a scarcely-believable winner.