Make no mistake, when England and Germany meet on the pitch it is anything but friendly. In the immortal words of John Cleese in the Fawlty Towers episode Don't Mention the War, it is impossible for a match between these two countries not to come with the luggage. And there is a lot of luggage. A lot of history, sentiments, both on and off the pitch, not to forget those two world wars and that one World Cup.

England skipper John Terry sent the 7000-strong English army ballistic when he scored the late winner in the "friendly". And unlike some other performances by the Three Lions, this was a truly deserved win over the arch-rivals in Berlin.

Terry headed in Stewart Downing's free-kick winner, and perhaps this was his way of apologising and amending for his earlier sins when he was far from convincing in his own box. He was partially responsible for giving the Germans the equaliser in a a defensive scrap with Scott Carson in the England box in the 64th minute, which Patrick Helmes took advantage of.

After Upson put England ahead in the 23rd minute in a half-hour in which England totally outplayed their hosts with a brisk, coherent passing game and aggressive tactics, the Germans slotted in a goal which could have been easily avoided in the second half.

Terry tried passing the ball to Carson but there was no English defender there to look out for the lurking Helmes who was on the prow and managed to slot in. The goal could have dampened England's confidence but they continued to press relentlessly for a second goal, encouraged by those 7000 who easily out-sang the 65 000-plus Germans supporters.

Another England attack saw Gabriel Agbonlahor, invading the German defensive perimeter down the right, then steered just outside the near post, before Downing's free-kick had goalkeeper Tim Wiese scrabbling down to his left to fumble away 20 minutes from time.

Then Shaun Wright-Phillips, called up after Theo Walcott's misfortunate injury, went forward to be stopped by the post after releasing a vicious 25-yard shot

But England were not finished, and with less than six minutes to go, Terry surged forward to the arc of the penalty area and headed Downing's free-kick past Wiese. This is just one more stunning result and performance which in recent weeks cements the assumption that England are finally starting to look like a real side after all, perhaps a side that can finally accomplish something since the distant 1966, and all thanks to Italian helmsman, Fabio Capello.

Capello, who took charge in January, was full of praise for his squad, which had been ravaged by big-name withdrawals.

"I think it would have been impossible to be better than this. A lot of our players played very, very well. We've played nine games and, after every game, I have seen the players taking another step forward. Today I saw another step forward. They were like a team. This is very important for me - very important," he said as quoted by the BBC.

"It was a very interesting game for Germany because they played new players from their squad, the same for us. I saw some players who have not played a lot of games under me. For the fans, it was also very nice to see us win in Germany."

The only downside of the spectacle was caused by an element of English casuals who made sure not to miss an opportunity and mix it with the Germans. Riots broke out in central Berlin, with hundreds of drunk English fans looking for a tear up and Germans to have a go at. Eight English supporters were arrested, and several German police officers were injured.