Germany silence Wembley crowd

A weakened Germany again proved too strong for England at Wembley as they secured a 2-1 victory in an open and entertaining friendly.

England started confidently and went ahead in the 10th minute when fullback Micah Richards advanced on the right and fed Frank Lampard to drive beyond Jens Lehmann.

Germany, shorn of at least half a dozen regulars, hit back in the 26th when home keeper Paul Robinson palmed Bernd Schneider's cross straight into the path of Kevin Kuranyi and they took the lead five minutes before halftime with a stinging 25-metre shot by debutant Christian Pander.

England had much the better of the second half, with Kieron Dyer going close twice and John Terry having a header cleared off the line but the visitors held out to record their sixth victory over England at Wembley old and new in 35 years.

North of the border Scotland celebrated a 1-0 win over visitors South Africa.

In a cagey game, chances were at a premium, but the homeside took theirs through Kris Boyd in the 71st.

Only on the pitch three minutes, substitute Boyd slammed home at the near post after a neat little ball over the top from stand-in captain Darrren Fletcher.

The strike sealed Scotland's first friendly win on home soil since the 4-1 victory against Trinidad & Tobago at Easter Road in 2004 - and  provides a confidence boost for next month's Euro 2008 qualifying double-headeragainst Lithuania and France.