Match report: Germany 1 England 2 | Capello's 24-carat gold reserves | How England rated | Debate: what is England's best XI now? | Agbonlahor merits inclusion in long-term plans | Rise and rise of Captain Responsible | Wenger eyes Walcott compensation | Giles Smith: was it meaningful enough to put I'm a Celebrity on hold for a night? | Debate: were Carson and Bent the only losers in Berlin?

If Fabio Capello was harbouring any lingering doubts over his choice of England captain, then John Terry erased them last night. The essence of good captaincy lies in accepting responsibility and it is in this area that Terry comes into his own, thrusting himself forward to atone for his part in Germany’s equaliser by scoring the winner and then gladly accepting the blame for his earlier error. The 28-year-old is maturing into a true leader of men.

While in the afterglow of a memorable victory it may have been relatively easy for Terry to throw his hands up for the misunderstanding that enabled Patrick Helmes to equalise, his willingness to do so will have meant the world to Scott Carson, and could even have played a part in handing him an extended international career. The West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper has been out in the cold since his errors contributed to the calamitous defeat by Croatia a year ago, and for him to have been blamed for throwing away a rare lead in Germany may have proved too much for him and shattered his fragile confidence for ever. Terry rescued Carson in word and deed, but in some respects his admission of guilt was more important than his 84th-minute winner.

“I should have done better and cleared it,” Terry said. “I didn’t deal with it early enough and we conceded the goal, but I hold my hands up to it. I was disappointed with the goal. It’s not Scotty’s fault, it’s mine. I should have cleared it.”

Expert View

Agbonlahor was far more impressive than all four of Capello’s previous first caps

Matt Hughes

• More

• Post a comment

Capello’s 24-carat gold reserves

The England manager celebrated a near-perfect year in charge as his second-string deservedly beat Germany 2-1

• England's lesser lights combine to fulfil year of transformation

• How the England players rated against Germany

• Rise and rise of John Terry, aka Captain Responsible

Related Links

• Capello’s 24-carat gold reserves

• England's lesser lights fulfil transformation

• How the England players rated against Germany

Terry’s rescue mission, springing from a typically elusive run at the back post that will have been familiar to anyone who has watched Chelsea in recent years, also helped to restore the reputation of several of his other team-mates. Stewart Downing, in particular, deserved to be on the winning side, with his exquisite delivery from a free kick by no means his only contribution in an excellent all-round performance that should banish memories of his dreadful crossing against Andorra in Barcelona in September. Terry paid tribute to Downing, as well as singling out the other goalscorer, Matthew Upson, for special praise.

“It was a good performance and it would be a shame if we had drawn that game,” Terry said. “I said to Downing ‘put it on my head, I will get my head on it’. With the wind and his delivery, I was always going to be in with a chance. I was delighted to get the winner because I was disappointed to give away the goal.

“I had slightly mixed feelings because of what happened before, but it’s great to beat a very good side away from home. In group stages of tournaments Germany have a determination and an arrogance. They know they are hard to break down. We had to win the first header and the first tackle and we did that.

“Matthew Upson was different class tonight, swept up brilliantly, won a lot of headers and was great on the ball as well. It was a good performance from the lads and it meant a lot to the team. We came with a weakened side, but it gave the youngsters a chance to perform. They had the confidence to run at defenders. They are fearless and it’s very exciting. They’ve given the manager a problem.”

As a skilled defensive organiser, Capello’s only disappointment of the evening was the manner in which England conceded the goal, although he will have been satisfied with the way in which Terry accepted responsibility. “I was disappointed with the goal,” Capello said. “It was a long ball, the wind stopped the ball and Terry tried to head it, but the ball stopped. It was a case of ‘you should, I should, you should, I should’. Germany came forward and shot.”