With a sellout crowd at Wembley Stadium praying for a quality performance in advance of their key Euro 2008 qualifiers next month, a tremendous strike from German debutant Christian Pander gave his country a 2-1 win against England.
England started the brighter of the teams and deservedly took the lead in the ninth minute through a powerful near-post strike from Frank Lampard after latching onto a through ball from Micah Richards, as the Chelsea midfielder answered his vocal critics from the stands over the past few matches.
But England goalkeeper Paul Richards gifted Germany the equalizer in the 26th minute when he failed to hold a cross from the right flank when he could have merely pushed it over the bar, and Kevin Kuranyi came in to provide the final touch.
Robinson, though, could do nothing on Pander's effort just five minutes shy of halftime. Taking possession 25 yards from goal, the German midfielder blasted a left-foot drive beyond the 'keeper's dive.
David Beckham played the entire match on the right of midfield for Steve McClaren's team, with no signs either of the long travel after Saturday night's game in New York or of being slowed by his troublesome ankle. Major League Soccer's highest-profile star set up Kieron Dyer twice in as many minutes midway through the second half, but on the second Dyer slid his shot wide.
Iceland 1, Canada 1
A late goal from one-time MetroStars draftee Olivier Occean provided the equalizer as Canada played to a 1-1 draw with Iceland at Laugardalsvellur Stadium in Reykjavik.
A 65th-minute goal from Gunnar Heidar Porvaldsson gave the hosts the lead on a cold and rainy night, but Occean, who came on as a substitute at the hour mark, pulled Canada into the tie with 15 minutes left.
Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Pat Onstad, called into the team after Lars Hirschfeld suffered a thumb injury, played the entire match in goal for Canada.
"Pat did well," said Canadian coach Dale Mitchell, in charge of the national team for the first time. "We called him in late, he played Sunday night in Houston, flew all the way over here, and did a good job. You expect that from Pat, because he's an experienced 'keeper and he's a quality guy and always ready to play for Canada."
