Germany 4 England 1: England's crossbar confusion leaves a sour taste

The Three Lions had hoped 44 years of hurt would end in South Africa. It did. German hurt.

When Frank Lampard's first-half shot crashed off the bar and bounced a clear two feet over the line, 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, as England did back then, 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 that fateful day and the Three Lions biggest defeat in Finals combat.

Miroslav Klose's and Lukas 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 Matthew Upson's 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 today, 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 in.

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.

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 the 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 undermine 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's legs and in off the post.

James had already made two feet-first saves as German eyes lit up at a clear sight of goal, and 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.

It is frankly ludicrous that Sepp Blatter and his FIFA mandarins continue to shrug their shoulders at such injustices as the one Lampard suffered when the entire stadium, through all manner of new technology, knew within minutes the ball had crashed off Neuer's bar and bounced at least two feet over the line.

It was not even close, 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.

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.

Four goals for the victors. Just like 66.

Supporters and players can – and will – bemoan the 'goal' decision but in reality, England were poor and on the day beaten by a much better side.

England are on their way home and deservedly so.

MATCH FOCUS

Heroes: England fans

Once again they have turned up in their thousands and once again they have been let down badly by the England players. They have spent a lot of money and time in following their country at this World Cup and deserved better.

Villain: Sepp Blatter

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has long been against the introduction of goal-line technology for football and until he changes his mind then teams are going to suffer at the hands of poor decisions just like England did yesterday when Frank Lampard's lobbed effort bounced down off the bar and over the line, only to then not be given.

Key moments

3rd minute: Mesut Ozil gets in behind Ashley Cole and his shot is spooned over the bar via the legs of goalkeeper David James.

10th minute: Germany break quickly and Lukas Podolski's shot is blocked by John Terry.

18th minute: Frank Lampard puts the first England shot straight into the wall from a free-kick.

20th minute: GOAL John Terry misreads a long ball from German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and Miroslav Klose out-muscles Matthew Upson to slide the ball past James. 0-1

30th minute: Klose receives the ball 12 yards out and looks certain to score but once again James saves with his legs.

32nd minute: GOAL Podolski smashes home a left-foot shot past James after fine work by Thomas Muller. 0-2

35th minute: James Milner's cross is met by Lampard but the ball is blocked by Neuer and scrambled clear.

37th minute: GOAL Gerrard's cross from the right is met by Upson who heads home. 1-2

38th minute: A superb Lampard 20-yard shot hits the crossbar and clearly bounces down over the line, confirmed by video replays, but the officials fail to spot the 'goal'.

52nd minute: Lampard's free-kick smacks into the crossbar and clear.

61st minute: Milner's shot looks destined for the net but is blocked by Jerome Boateng.

67th minute: GOAL Germany counter attack quickly and Muller receives the ball inside the area and rifles his shot past James. 1-3

70th minute: GOAL Ozil breaks down the left and crosses for Muller who slots the fourth German goal. 1-4

81st minute: Gerrard links up with Wayne Rooney and the Liverpool man brings a brilliant reflex save from Neuer.

Ref watch

Jorge Larrionda (Uruguay): Will be haunted by the decision not to give Frank Lampard his 'goal'.

Verdict

Yes, England should have had a second goal, but in reality the Germans were simply too good and Fabio Capello's side were just not good enough. England needed big displays from their big players and they did not provide them.

Quote of the day

I have not seen the goal again but I didn't need to see it again... I knew it was a goal when I hit it. It was over the line by a yard or so.

– Frank Lampard rues his luck after his 'goal' is ruled out.

Next game

Sadly there is no next game at these finals for England as attention now turns to qualification for Euro 2012.