Terry makes amends in 2-1 win over Germany

John Terry atoned for his part in a dreadful mix-up to score England's winner in a 2-1 victory over Germany in an international friendly at the Olympiastadion last night.

Italy coach Marcello Lippi equalled the world record of 31 successive international games without defeat when his side drew 1-1 in a friendly with Greece while Diego Maradona made a winning start as Argentina coach when they beat Scotland 1-0 in Glasgow.

England moved ahead midway through the first half when German goalkeeper Rene Adler missed an attempted punch from a corner, leaving defender Matthew Upson to prod the ball home.

The visitors should have made it 2-0 when Darren Bent was through in the second half but the striker allowed Germany substitute keeper Tim Wiese to save and moments later the home side were level.

Terry chose to shepherd the ball back toward England's replacement keeper Scott Carson, who hesitated and allowed Patrick Helmes to help himself to an equaliser.

Captain Terry made amends when he headed in from a Stewart Downing free-kick with the clock ticking down.

England were missing half a dozen or more of their best players, including Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney, while Germany were without Michael Ballack, Torsten Frings and Philipp Lahm and the lack of quality showed.

The visitors, who have been re-energised since the arrival of Italian coach Fabio Capello, enjoyed the best moments in the first half and should have gone two clear when Bent rounded the keeper only to slip and shoot wide.

Shaun Wright-Phillips also cracked the post for England with a long-range effort in a seesaw second half.

The game in Athens, which saw Luca Toni equalise five minutes after Fanis Gekas put Greece ahead early in the second half, took Lippi level with Javier Clemente of Spain and Alfio Basile of Argentina.

Lippi, who has reached the mark over two stints with Italy, also beat the Italian record of 30 set by Vittorio Pozzo between 1935 and 1939.

Lippi's first spell in charge ran from 2004 to 2006 when he led Italy to victory in the World Cup in Germany. He was reappointed this year after Italy's poor performance at the European Championships under Roberto Donadoni.

Alexandros Tzorvas, making his debut in goal for Greece, produced a cluster of fine saves including two in the second half to deny Mauro Camoranesi.

Neither side offered much in way of entertainment or chances in a poor first half, although Tzorvas got down well to palm away a Gennaro Gattuso shot and then denied Giuseppe Rossi from a metre out.

Greece were twice unlucky, first when they were denied a penalty in the 39th minute after a Gattuso handball and then a minute later when Vangelis Mantzios had a goal ruled out for offside.

The game sparked into life five minutes into the second period when substitute Gekas ran on to a deft pass from Alexandros Tziolis to fire the ball wide of Morgan De Sanctis in the Italian goal.

Italy then levelled as Bayern Munich striker Toni rose high above the defence at the back post to head in Daniele De Rossi's cross from the right.

In Glasgow, Argentina winger Maxi Rodriguez darted through from the right on to Carlos Tevez's pass to put a low shot under Scotland keeper Allan McGregor after eight minutes.

It was Maradona's second win at Hampden Park after helping Argentina beat the Scots 3-1 as an 18-year-old in June 1979 with his first international goal.

Maradona took charge two weeks ago after Argentina lost their last match, a World Cup qualifier away to Chile 1-0 last month and coach Alfio Basile resigned.

Meanwhile, former Aston Villa striker Savo Milosevic scored two goals and missed two penalties in his last international appearance as Serbia demolished Bulgaria 6-1.

The 35-year old stalwart took his tally to 37 goals in 102 games for his country and received a standing ovation when he was substituted in the 34th minute of what may have been the penultimate match of his career.

"I have one more league match for my (Russian) club Rubin Kazan and that might be the end," he told reporters after the match.