Germany's fine year continued on Tuesday night as Joachim Low's men beat rivals England at Wembley.

Die Mannschaft have suffered just one defeat in 12 games in 2013 after Per Mertesacker's first-half header gave the visitors a 1-0 win in London.

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The Arsenal defender netted his fourth senior international goal when he met Mario Gotze's cross after 38 minutes.

Mertesacker had almost opened the scoring from a corner seconds earlier, but Joe Hart made a one-handed save.

Germany came close to doubling their lead just after the interval, but Hart was again on form to deny Marco Reus from close range.

The Three Lions then broke immediately and Andros Townsend's deep cross was nodded back across goal by Daniel Sturridge towards Adam Lallana, whose hopes of netting his first international goal were dashed by Mats Hummels's brave interception.

England continued to push for an equaliser and Townsend rattled the post with a fierce low drive from 25 yards.

It was Hummels to the German rescue again just after the hour mark, as the Borussia Dortmund centre-half produced a vital block on the edge of the six-yard box to thwart Sturridge.

As England piled forward in search of a late leveller, the visitors began to look dangerous on the counter-attack.

Gotze forced a good diving save out of Hart. The Bayern Munich midfielder then played a neat lofted through pass to Sidney Sam, whose lobbed effort beat Hart, but landed just wide.

Despite the game being open, it ended 1-0, sparking a chorus of boos at the final whistle.