Three Lions battered after goal gaffe
England were hammered 4-1 by Germany in the second round of the World Cup, but the spotlight fell on the officials after they missed an obvious equaliser for Fabio Capello's men just before half-time. After Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski had put Germany 2-0 up early on, Matthew Upson got one back but then Frank Lampard's goal was ruled out after the ball bounced down off the bar, despite it landing a yard over the line.
When Lampard's effort went in, only for assistant Mauricio Espinosa to miss it, grainy images of England's controversial third at Wembley in 1966 immediately sprang to mind. To his total disbelief, Capello's celebrations of what would have been an equaliser were cut short. Everyone in the ground, except the men who mattered, knew what had happened.
Germany made the most of their good fortune to book a quarter-final place, with what turned out to be their biggest win over a rival they have not lost to in a major tournament since the 1966 final. For England, it was their joint-biggest ever defeat at a World Cup.
Klose and Podolski's first half-goals were doubled by a pair from the excellent Thomas Muller after the break. But no-one will be talking about them on the streets of England. Nor will they discuss a Matthew Upson header that brought the Three Lions back into it.
Eventually they might get round to the clear defensive deficiencies in a team Capello claimed was good enough to reach the final.
But, from Berwick to Land's End, Carlisle to Dover, all they will snarl and rage at his how on earth Lampard's shot was missed. The stench will tinge the remainder of a tournament England will play no part of.
In a stormy few weeks, Franz Beckenbauer's first attempt to stoke Anglo-German relations came when he branded England a long-ball team. Yet a true exponent of the art would surely be better at defending it.
England had already been warned. One long punt down field from David James required a single bounce to rocket over the goal-line. So there was no excuse for John Terry being so far up field when Manuel Neuer launched the ball from his six-yard line that he was taken completely out of the play by its flight.
Upson was left one-on-one with Klose and had neither agility, nor the strength to prevent the striker advancing on James and poking the ball into the England goal. It was the start of an exceptionally uncomfortable period for Capello's side as Germany rampaged right through the heart of their midfield almost at will.
Mesut Ozil was an obvious problem, but Muller - the 20-year-old who helped beat Manchester United with Bayern Munich this term - was emerging as the real danger man. When he skipped off the right flank onto Klose's short pass, the English defence was again ripped to shreds.
Despite his tender years, Muller retained a cool enough head to flick the ball square to Podolski, whose finish, from a tight angle, went straight through James' legs and in off the post.
As James had already made two feet-first saves as German eyes lit up at a clear sight of goal, it seemed there was no way back for a team being completely outmanoeuvred. Yet in a confrontation dripping with history, nothing is really new.
For two goal comebacks, think Leon 1970, when Sir Alf Ramsey made the fateful mistake of whisking off Bobby Charlton with a semi-final place supposedly assured. Upson's reaction header from Steven Gerrard's cross brought that dream a bit closer to being realised.
As they celebrated, little did England know that within 60 seconds their opponents were about to enjoy the ultimate act of revenge. Lampard's effort provided the major talking point, and former captain David Beckham grilled South American officials as they made their way off at half-time.
Within seven minutes of the restart England were suffering again as Lampard let fly from fully 35 yards with a free-kick that again shook Neuer's crossbar. At least this time there was no claim for a goal.
It sparked a frenzied second half though, by far the most compelling period of play in the entire tournament, Germany defending manically, then trying to break on the counter.
Bastian Schweinsteiger had already come close to killing the game when another Lampard free-kick cannoned off the wall. Gareth Barry was neatly robbed, Muller set Schweinsteiger free and began a run that ended with him burying England's World Cup dream.
Germany were not finished. With their opponents committed to desperate attack, Ozil raced past Barry with alarming ease and presented a gleeful Muller with a tap-in.
England continued to press but by the time Emile Heskey and Shaun Wright-Phillips were introduced, all hopes of a comeback had evaporated and Germany held on to claim a famous victory.
Klose and Podolski's first half-goals were doubled by a pair from the excellent Thomas Muller after the break. But no-one will be talking about them on the streets of England. Nor will they discuss a Matthew Upson header that brought the Three Lions back into it.
Eventually they might get round to the clear defensive deficiencies in a team Capello claimed was good enough to reach the final.
But, from Berwick to Land's End, Carlisle to Dover, all they will snarl and rage at his how on earth Lampard's shot was missed. The stench will tinge the remainder of a tournament England will play no part of.
In a stormy few weeks, Franz Beckenbauer's first attempt to stoke Anglo-German relations came when he branded England a long-ball team. Yet a true exponent of the art would surely be better at defending it.
England had already been warned. One long punt down field from David James required a single bounce to rocket over the goal-line. So there was no excuse for John Terry being so far up field when Manuel Neuer launched the ball from his six-yard line that he was taken completely out of the play by its flight.
Upson was left one-on-one with Klose and had neither agility, nor the strength to prevent the striker advancing on James and poking the ball into the England goal. It was the start of an exceptionally uncomfortable period for Capello's side as Germany rampaged right through the heart of their midfield almost at will.
Mesut Ozil was an obvious problem, but Muller - the 20-year-old who helped beat Manchester United with Bayern Munich this term - was emerging as the real danger man. When he skipped off the right flank onto Klose's short pass, the English defence was again ripped to shreds.
Despite his tender years, Muller retained a cool enough head to flick the ball square to Podolski, whose finish, from a tight angle, went straight through James' legs and in off the post.
As James had already made two feet-first saves as German eyes lit up at a clear sight of goal, it seemed there was no way back for a team being completely outmanoeuvred. Yet in a confrontation dripping with history, nothing is really new.
For two goal comebacks, think Leon 1970, when Sir Alf Ramsey made the fateful mistake of whisking off Bobby Charlton with a semi-final place supposedly assured. Upson's reaction header from Steven Gerrard's cross brought that dream a bit closer to being realised.
As they celebrated, little did England know that within 60 seconds their opponents were about to enjoy the ultimate act of revenge. Lampard's effort provided the major talking point, and former captain David Beckham grilled South American officials as they made their way off at half-time.
Within seven minutes of the restart England were suffering again as Lampard let fly from fully 35 yards with a free-kick that again shook Neuer's crossbar. At least this time there was no claim for a goal.
It sparked a frenzied second half though, by far the most compelling period of play in the entire tournament, Germany defending manically, then trying to break on the counter.
Bastian Schweinsteiger had already come close to killing the game when another Lampard free-kick cannoned off the wall. Gareth Barry was neatly robbed, Muller set Schweinsteiger free and began a run that ended with him burying England's World Cup dream.
Germany were not finished. With their opponents committed to desperate attack, Ozil raced past Barry with alarming ease and presented a gleeful Muller with a tap-in.
England continued to press but by the time Emile Heskey and Shaun Wright-Phillips were introduced, all hopes of a comeback had evaporated and Germany held on to claim a famous victory.
MATCH SUMMARY
Man of the Match: Thomas Muller - Identified by Wayne Rooney as a big threat before the game, Muller scored two and set-up the Lukas Podolski goal that put Germany 2-0 up. The Bayern Munich forward was industrious and full of running down the right and always offered an outlet; he took his two goals with fantastic composure. Honourable mention must go to England goalkeeper David James who tried in vain to thwart Germany with a number of smart stops.
Germany verdict: Very impressive in attack but question marks still remain about their defensive capabilities; they will need to improve if they are to triumph over a more clinical side than England in the quarter-finals, especially if Argentina are the opponents. However, there are numerous positives to take, with Miroslav Klose proving his international finishing prowess once again and the likes of Muller, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mesut Ozil providing boundless energy. Impressive on the counter-attack and the victory was thoroughly deserved.
England verdict: Could have been so different had Frank Lampard's first-half strike counted when Capello's side were very much in the ascendancy. But they were beaten by a youthful and more energetic Germany team, who took advantage of defensive lapses in concentration. Wayne Rooney was once again disappointing and though England did look bright after the second goal, they were unable to demonstrate the sort of ruthless streak that their opponents displayed in abundance.
Could do better: England's defence. The lack of pace of England's centre-back pairing was embarrassingly exposed by Joachim Low's side; John Terry and Matthew Upson's joint mistake for the first goal would have looked at home on a Sunday League pitch. Gareth Barry also looked woeful as a defensive midfielder and provided a distinct lack of protection for the back four. It would be easy to blame the assistant referee, but England defended apallingly.
Stat attack: This was the third time in World Cup history that England conceded four goals, previous four-goal hauls were achieved by Belgium and Hungary in 1954.
Man of the Match: Thomas Muller - Identified by Wayne Rooney as a big threat before the game, Muller scored two and set-up the Lukas Podolski goal that put Germany 2-0 up. The Bayern Munich forward was industrious and full of running down the right and always offered an outlet; he took his two goals with fantastic composure. Honourable mention must go to England goalkeeper David James who tried in vain to thwart Germany with a number of smart stops.
Germany verdict: Very impressive in attack but question marks still remain about their defensive capabilities; they will need to improve if they are to triumph over a more clinical side than England in the quarter-finals, especially if Argentina are the opponents. However, there are numerous positives to take, with Miroslav Klose proving his international finishing prowess once again and the likes of Muller, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mesut Ozil providing boundless energy. Impressive on the counter-attack and the victory was thoroughly deserved.
England verdict: Could have been so different had Frank Lampard's first-half strike counted when Capello's side were very much in the ascendancy. But they were beaten by a youthful and more energetic Germany team, who took advantage of defensive lapses in concentration. Wayne Rooney was once again disappointing and though England did look bright after the second goal, they were unable to demonstrate the sort of ruthless streak that their opponents displayed in abundance.
Could do better: England's defence. The lack of pace of England's centre-back pairing was embarrassingly exposed by Joachim Low's side; John Terry and Matthew Upson's joint mistake for the first goal would have looked at home on a Sunday League pitch. Gareth Barry also looked woeful as a defensive midfielder and provided a distinct lack of protection for the back four. It would be easy to blame the assistant referee, but England defended apallingly.
Stat attack: This was the third time in World Cup history that England conceded four goals, previous four-goal hauls were achieved by Belgium and Hungary in 1954.
