Germany 4 England 1 - Germany outclass sorry England to reach quarter-finals
Mesut Oezil(credit:
Wikipedia)
Germany hammered sorry England 4-1 to book their place in the World Cup quarter-finals.
Matthew Upson had just headed England back into the game, following goals from Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski, when Frank Lampard’s shot hit the bar and bounced a yard over the line.
But the ‘goal’ was not given and two second-half strikes from Thomas Muller confirmed a miserable night for the Three Lions, who ultimately failed to produce yet again in South Africa.
Bastian Schweinsteiger and Jerome Boateng passed late fitness tests to take their place in Germany’s starting XI, while England coach Fabio Capello stuck with the same 11 that saw off Slovenia.
However, in the early stages they were unrecognisable from the team that rescued the Three Lions’ World Cup dream.
Mesut Oezil sent an early warning when he got behind Ashley Cole and forced a fine save from David James, and Podolski then wasted a fine chance on the break by firing straight at Upson.
James the confidently gathered a Philipp Lahm cross with Sami Khedira lurking, but he could do nothing about the German opener on 20 minutes.
Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer pumped a goal kick downfield that went straight between Upson and John Terry, and despite being tugged at by the West Ham man, Klose stabbed the ball into the net.
England were struggling badly and they were soon two goals down.
Muller played a ball over the head of Glen Johnson for Podolski who, despite a poor touch, was able to slot the ball home through the legs of James.
England’s first real chance came shortly afterwards when Neuer had to be alert to block Lampard’s effort from a great cross by James Milner.
But the Three Lions soon pulled one back, a short corner found its way to Steven Gerrard and he crossed for Upson to head home.
Suddenly England burst into life and were denied by an equaliser by some appalling officiating.
Lampard clipped a shot over the back-peddling Neuer that struck the underside of the crossbar of clearly crossed the line, but the ball spun back into the arms of the Germany goalkeeper and the referee waved for the game to continue despite the England players furiously remonstrating with the official.
And they almost found themselves two behind as the Germans broke away, but Podolski’s shot fizzed just wide of James’ upright.
England were immediately on the attack after the break and Gerrard dragged an effort wide, and Fabio Capello’s men must have thought their luck was out minutes later.
Lampard left fly with an audacious free-kick from almost 40 yards and Neuer did not move as the ball dipped late and bounced off the top of the crossbar.
Germany were looking dangerous on the break, however, and James had to race from his goal to beat Klose to Schweinsteiger’s ball over the top.
Gerrard again failed to hit the target from distance before Lahm almost gifted a chance to Jermain Defoe with a poor pass, but Neuer spared the Germany skipper’s blushes.
Muller strode past Gareth Barry only to see his shot deflected wide by Cole, but the Germans then put the game out of sight with a two goal blast in three minutes, ensuring Lampard's 'goal' would not be the deciding factor in the end.
Lampard crashed a free-kick straight into the wall and Germany broke quickly, and Schweinsteiger fed an unmarked Muller to rifle the ball past James.
And then, from another England attack, the thoroughly impressive Oezil got away from Barry to race onto the end of a long ball forward before pulling back for the onrushing Muller to make it four.
Upson produced a timely block to deny Podolski and Mario Gomez eased past Terry before firing wide as the Germans went on the hunt for a fifth.
At the other end Gerrard forced a fine save from Neuer after charging into the area and wrong-footing Per Mertesacker.
Mertesacker then blocked an effort from Barry after Rooney’s low cross fell to the Manchester City midfielder, and Lampard’s effort from range was held by Neuer as time ran out on England’s dream to end a 44-year wait to lift the Jules Rimet Trophy.
Germany: Neuer, Friedrich, Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Oezil (Kiessling 83), Podolski, Klose (Gomez 72), Muller (Trochowski 72), Lahm, Mertesacker, Boateng.
Goals: Klose 20, Podolski 32, Muller 67, 70
England: James, Johnson (Wright-Phillips 87), A Cole, Gerard, Terry, Lampard, Rooney, Barry, Upson, Milner (J Cole 64), Defoe (Heskey 71).
Goal: Upson 37
Bookings: Friedrich (Germany), Johnson (England)