Germany coach Joachim Loew admitted England were simply better than his side as John Terry`s late header sealed a 2-1 win for Fabio Capello`s side.

`The Englishmen were better over the entire game,` said Loew, who guided Germany to the runners-up spot at Euro 2008 in June after they lost the final to Spain in Vienna.

`We had a bad day at the office and earned the defeat.

`Only in the second half did we find our feet, in what was our best phase of the game, but we had big problems in terms of organisation and structure.

`You could see England getting stronger and we didn`t take our chances when we had them.`

England`s 7,000 fans at the Olympic Stadium were in good voice as the away side had a virtual monopoly on possession in the early stages.

Without captain Michael Ballack and veteran Torsten Frings in midfield, the German`s middle men repeatedly played second-fiddle to their English counterparts.

`We did not produce our best today, but England also tactically played very well,` said Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger.

`We were simply not good enough.`

West Ham defender Matthew Upson scored England`s first goal before Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrick Helmes came off the bench to poach an equaliser, but England captain Terry headed the winner six minutes from time.

`It was great to score the goal, but we lost the game, so it`s pretty hard to come away from the game with much to smile about,` said Helmes.

And it was also a sweet-bitter evening for Hoffenheim defender Marvin Compper who made his debut for die Mannschaft, but opened his account with a defeat.

`Of course, I am very happy to have played from the start, but to make my debut in a defeat is naturally very disappointing.`