Lukas Podolski handed Gareth Southgate his first defeat as England manager, scoring the only goal of what was his final game for Germany.

Southgate used the friendly match as an opportunity to experiment, lining his team up in an unfamiliar 3-4-3 system.

Michael Keane, Gary Cahill and Chris Smalling lined up in England's defensive trio, while Kyle Walker and Ryan Bertrand played further forward in Wing Back positions.

Jamie Vardy was England's starting striker, with Dele Alli and Adam Lallana filling out the Three Lions' attacking line.

But the experimental system was unable to overcome the reigning World Cup champions, who secured a 1-0 victory thanks to the 130-cap Podolski.

The former Arsenal striker secured his country's victory in the 69th minute, driving a left-footed shot from outside the penalty area into the back of the net.

England's only real opportunity to score in this game came from Tottenham Hotspur star Dele Alli, who sent a shot straight towards German goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.

Alli found himself in the one-on-one situation thanks to a crucial Jamie Vardy pass but was unable to slot his shot past the Barcelona keeper.

The 3-4-3 system appeared to suit Alli very well, with the former Milton Keynes Dons youth product putting in another Man of the Match performance against Germany - much like he did a year earlier.

Beyond this moment, however, England rarely threatened and the two teams could easily have left the Westfalenstadion with a draw.

England must now quickly turn their attentions to the more important World Cup qualifier against Lithuania, where Southgate will be determined to see his team perform well and get back to winning ways.

England Starting XI: Hart, Keane, Smalling, Cahill, Walker, Dier, Livermore, Bertrand, Alli, Lallana, Vardy
Subs Used: Redmond (Lallana 66'), Rashford (Vardy 70'), Lingard (Alli 71'), Shaw (Bertrand 83'), Ward-Prowse (Livermore 83'), Stones (Smalling 84')