2010 World Cup: Germany v England full time report
Germany 4 England 1
England were knocked out of the 2010 World Cup after suffering their heaviest ever finals defeat against Germany as Joachim Loew's side stormed to a deserved 4-1 victory in Bloemfontein.
Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski gave the Germans a 2-0 lead, before Matthew Upson pulled one back just before half time. Frank Lampard then had a valid goal ruled out after the match officials failed to spot his shot had crossed the line.
The three-time world champions then made sure of their place in the quarter-finals with a second-half brace from Thomas Mueller, to inflict a humiliating defeat on Fabio Capello's eliminated side.
In one of the worst defensive performances from an England side at a World Cup finals, Germany tore past their old rivals and thoroughly warranted winning by a three-goal margin. If it wasn't for David James in the England goal, the scoreline could have been even more emphatic.
Capello's side were handed an early scare when Germany's dangerman Mesut Ozil stole past the napping England defence and was allowed to get his shot off on goal. Only a good save from the legs of James prevented an early goal.
If England's defence had managed to keep things tight for the next 15 minutes after Ozil's chance, their hard work was undone following an embarrassing example of how to defend at the top level.
A routine goal kick from Neuer sailed over the head of John Terry and was allowed to bounce straight through to Klose. Upson failed to shrug off the German hitman, who slotted the ball low past James.
The England goalkeeper had every right to be livid at his defenders, who were at sixes and sevens.
James then was forced to make a superb save on the half hour mark from that man Klose again, before another abysmal piece of defending from England allowed Podolski to double the Germans' advantage.
A ball over the top from Klose on the right flank beat the entire England defence, Mueller picked the ball up, laid the ball off to Podolski, who then proceeded to beat James from an acute angle.
Just when the game seemed dead and buried, though, Upson provided England a timely way back into the match. A short-corner was played to Gerrard on the edge of the box, and his brilliantly whipped-in ball was headed in by the towering centre-back ahead of Neuer.
And then came the moment which will be replayed over and over for years to come. A delightful chip from Lampard from 20 yards beat the German goalkeeper, then hit the bar and clearly crossed the goal-line.
However, the Uruguayan assistant referee on the far side failed to spot that the ball had crossed the line. England and their thousands of fans inside the Free State Stadium were left infuriated and whistled the match officials off the pitch at half time to a chorus of boos and jeers.
There were positives for Capello's side, as they had ended the first half on top of their opponents. But as England fans have become all too familiar with over the decades, it's the hope that invariably kills you, and once again they had their dreams shattered after another woeful second-half display.
It had begun reasonably well, with Lampard coming within an inch of levelling the scores with a thunderous free-kick from fully 30-yards on the 51st minute. The midfielder cannoned his venomous strike off Neuer's crossbar – but this was about as close as England came to equalising.
England continued to press as the game became increasingly stretched. However, Germany were also busy creating scoring opportunities of their own and went close to making it 3-1 through Bastian Schweinsteiger. Fortunately for James, the ball ended up flying past his far post.
Then came the quick-fire brace from Mueller which ended England's World Cup dream for another four years.
Two lightening quick counter-attacks made short work of England. First, in the 66th minute, a Lampard free-kick fell to Barry, who lost the ball on the edge of the penalty area. Germany capitalised on the defensive midfielder's mistake and laid the ball off to Schweinsteiger, who found Mueller in acres of space inside the penalty area. The impressive 20-year-old kept his composure to fire the ball past James, who might have felt he could have done better.
Just three minutes later, the match was put out of reach after another fabulous counter-attack from the Germans. As the ball broke to the brilliant Ozil on the left, Barry was assigned to task of stopping him. The young German breezed past the sluggish Barry with consummate ease, squared the ball to Mueller and the score was now 4-1.
Game over for England. Germany were now running riot at the Free State Stadium.
Barring a couple of half chances in the final minutes, England showed little to suggest 4-1 was a harsh scoreline. It was a thoroughly disappointing ending to a thoroughly disappointing tournament.
Questions will now be asked about a wide range of issues back on English shores. Does Capello deserve to be sacked? Do England need a radical overhaul of their squad for the Euro 2008 qualifiers? Have FIFA made a bad mistake by refusing to introduce goal-line technology?
Meanwhile, Germany, the team which got it right on the day in style, march on to the quarter-finals yet again.
If England want to get it right in future major tournaments, taking a few notes from the German model wouldn't be a bad start based on this abject performance.
http://www.senore.com/Steven-Gerrard-we-couldnt-do-it-for-90-minutes-a13936
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