• Germany - England

Shambolic England embarrassed by Germany

ESPN staff
June 27, 2010
Lukas Podolski fired Germany into a 2-0 lead © Getty Images
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England produced a shocking defensive display as Germany were allowed to embarrass Fabio Capello's men 4-1 in Bloemfontein to end their 2010 World Cup dreams.

First-half goals from Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski and a second-half brace from Thomas Muller inflicted England's worst World Cup defeat, rendering Matthew Upson's header a mere statistic. However, Steven Gerrard and Co. will point to a pivotal moment towards the end of the first half, when a Frank Lampard volley clearly crossed the line but was not given by the officials.

Back in 1966 it was a 'Russian linesman' and Geoff Hurst who conspired to write the headlines in a World Cup match between England and Germany, but this time the footballing Gods frowned on The Three Lions as Lampard's undeniable goal was overlooked.

Hurst's famous Wembley strike 44 years ago was given by Azerbaijani linesman Tofik Bakhramov, often wrongly referred to as the Russian linesman, and it sent Bobby Moore and Co. on to England's first and only World Cup triumph.

At the Free State Stadium on Sunday, with the score reading 2-1 to Germany, Lampard emulated Hurst with one hugely significant difference: The Chelsea man's strike was unquestionably over the line. However, as Capello celebrated England's equaliser without a hint of doubt in his mind, the Uruguayan linesman kept his flag down - much to the horror of a nation.

The moment cost England their participation in a World Cup that has limped from one disaster to another, but it will inevitably overshadow a shocking defensive performance that should have seen them trail by much more than the single goal at half time.

Having opted for Upson alongside John Terry in defence, Capello was forced to watch in sheer agony on 20 minutes when the width of the River Thames parted his two centre backs, allowing Klose to dart directly onto goalkeeper Manuel Neuer's clearance in order to poke the opening goal past David James.

With Mesut Ozil and Bastian Schweinsteiger weaving webs around the pedestrian Gareth Barry, Podolski soon doubled that advantage, taking advantage of an acre of room at the far post to slam the ball past the desperately unprotected David James.

Then came England's rally, Gerrard crossed wonderfully for Upson to halve the deficit, and Lampard looped a volley off the underside of the bar and over the line. Goal not given. England's hopes evaporated.

Chasing a second-half equaliser, Lampard sent a 30-yard rocket of a free kick crashing off the bar, but when he lined up another, England's dream was about to end. The Chelsea man's strike hit the wall, and Germany launched a three-on-two counter through the intelligent Schweinsteiger, who picked out Muller for a game-ending third.

Frank Lampard could not believe his goal was not given © Getty Images
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England, as they had been for the majority of the contest, were chasing shadows, and now it was a matter of how many as Muller clipped home his second with 20 minutes remaining from Ozil's centre.

Not that anyone will be talking about Germany's goals on the streets of England. 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 is 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 pretty good at defending it. There was no excuse for Terry being so far up field when Neuer launched the ball from his six-yard line, Upson was left one-on-one with Klose and had neither the agility, nor the strength to prevent the striker advancing on James and poking the ball into the England goal.

Ozil was an obvious problem, but Muller - the 20-year-old who helped destroy 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.

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 volley was not even close to bouncing on the line, which is what David Beckham was presumably telling the 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.

Schweinsteiger had already come close to killing the game when another Lampard free-kick cannoned off the wall. 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.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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