Wrap up:
“The scoreline lies because England should’ve had a goal,” says Liam Brady, “but the scoreline doesn’t lie becuse there was a gulf of class between the two teams.” The game was notable for an awful decision in the first half that in the end made no difference to the final result. It was also notable for a great German performance.
Germany looked impressive, countered exceptionally well, and scored some great goals. England defended like muppets and were deservedly punished. It is a pity that the two best teams in the tournament so far, Argentina and Germany, will play each other in the quarter final.
Thanks very much for joining us, and for your comments.
Have a good day.
Full time
90′
“A story of what might have been for England,” says George Hamilton. Not really. They’ve been absolutely rubbish. Last time England lost by two clear goals in a World Cup was in 1962.
85′
Glen Johnson comes off and Shaun Wright Philips came on. That’ll make all the difference.
Glen Johnson gets a yellow card. He’ll now miss England’s next match of the tournament. HA!
Watching England play Germany right now is like watching a child play an overly competitive parent. “I wonder how the game would’ve gone if the Lampard goal had been given,” ponders George Hamilton. England would’ve lost George.
Steven Gerrard has a shot from about eight yards that Neuer saves brilliantly.
Germany are playing keep ball right now, England are embarrassing. Gomez was almost in on goal, but went the wrong way and England clear it.
“Forget the goal that wasn’t,” says Simon from Nenagh, “Germany are a different class to England.” You’ll be eating those words, Simon, when Heskey nets four goals. He’s scored four goals before, though they didn’t all come in one match. In fact, it took him about 60.
Germany counter-attack again, Ozil destroys Barry with his pace, plays it into Muller who puts it away easily. He’s reminding me of his namesake Gerd today. Heskey comes on for England, they’ll defiantly win now.
Goal Germany
Germany break again at breathtaking speed, Schweinsteiger passes to Muller who hits it at James. He should have stopped it. In the end it came off James’ elbow, bad error.
Goal Germany
Freidrich is punished for blocking Rooney. Frank Lampard hits the wall, Germany counter and . . .
England make a substitution. Off comes James Milner, and on comes England’s magic ingredient Joe Cole. Not to confused with JOE’s magic ingredient, which is turmeric.
Defoe is through again, but Friedrich pulls off an excellent tackle. Germany counter, and Schweinsteiger’s shot from distance goes just wide.
Gerrard blasts the ball wide again. He’s been rubbish. “How many ridiculous shots and misplaced passes has Gerrard had?” asks Tom from Armagh. 26 and a half.
Awful defending once again, Rooney plays in Defoe and Neuer has to pull off a last ditch tackle and clear the ball.
Germany break again, Klose crosses in to Muller and Terry puts it out of play. Cracking game here. Real end to end stuff.
Friedrich gave away a free-kick from which Frank Lampard hit the crossbar. This time it didn’t drop and go over the line.
Gerrard shoots a 25 yard shot about 25 yards wide. Here’s how they covered the controversial first half incident on FIFA’s website; “Lampard thought he’d restored parity after lobbing the goalkeeper and watching the ball come down off the underside of the bar. However, the assistant adjudges that the ball didn’t cross the line.”
Second half kicks off. Within the first minute Friedrich gets booked.
Boos ring around Bloemfontein. Everyone in the stadium could tell that the ball was over the line. Little babies being cradled by their mothers could tell it was over the line. England looked dead and buried after going 2-0 down, then in a mad couple should have been level. Liam Brady is very emotional. “I’m delighted, I’m sad for England but I’m delighted for Sepp Blatter.”
Half time
What’s the bet that some English newspapers will be giving out pictures of linesman Mauricio Espinosa to put on dart boards, like they did with Beckham in ’98?
Worst decision of the World Cup so far. It’s ridiculous that in 2010, clear goals like that aren’t given. Time for technolgy surely. Is it going to be another hard luck story for England again?
England get one back when Neuer made a howler. Lampard crossed the ball in fro a short corner, and Upson scored from a header after Neuer came out flapping. Then it should’ve been 2-2 a few seconds later when Lampard’s brilliant long range strike hit the bar and went a mile over the line. 1966 in reverse.
36′
Goal England
Goal Germany!
They break the offside trap again, Muller feeds Podolski and the left-winger-cum-striker supplies the finish. All over?
Replays showed that the goal might have been offside. It doesn’t make England’s defending any better though.
What an awful awful goal to concede. “Great positioning by JT,” says Steve from Kerry sarcastically. It’s Klose’s 50th international goal.
Klose scores with his foot. Neuer’s enourmous kick-out goes straight to Klose, who outmuscled Matt Upson and slides it passed James. Route One.
Goal Germany
Lampard hits his six millionth bad shot of the tournament, as his free-kick clatters the German wall.
David James has looked excellent so far. He’s been commanding in his area and made a great save from Ozil early on. Free-kick to England from about 20 yards out.
Muller is on the ground in pain after a 50/50 challenge with Ashley Cole. He appears to be alright though.
Germany breack quickly, and it was three on three. The promising counter attack comes to nothing however, when Podolski’s shot is blocked by Terry.
Neuer fell over after kicking the ball out. Germany have been much the better team so far.
Rooney looked like he was through, but he was given off-side. Then Germany had a great chance when Schweinsteiger’s excellent ball went to Ozil five yards from goal. His shot, however, was saved brilliantly by David James.
England have won the last three matches on foreign soil against Germany. They won 2-1 in Munich, 5-1 in Berlin, and 1-0 in Charleroi at Euro 2000. Its in Wembley where they struggle, losing four times times to Germany there since ’91. Game kicks off.
I think I heard England fans booing before the German national anthem.
In the RTE studio, John Giles called Ozil “the closest I’ve seen to Liam play.” Brady blushed like a little schoolgirl.
This will be the fifth time that they’ve met in the World Cup. Germany have won twice (on penalties in ’90 and 3-2 in ’70), England have won once (4-2 in 1966) and there has been one draw (0-0 in ’82).
If the match ends in a draw you would have to fancy the Germans to win on penalties after their shoot-out wins over England at Euro ’96 and Italia ’90. It must be pointed out, however, that Germany has already missed one in this tournament in their match against Serbia. Who wasn’t surprised to see that?
This will be the 32nd time these two countries have met. England have the better record, winning 15 times to Germany’s ten. There have been six draws.
Boateng and Schweinsteiger have been passed fit for Germany while Klose returns following his suspension. England are unchanged from the Slovenia match.
The teams:
England
James, Johnson, Terry, Upson, Ashley Cole, Barry, Gerrard, Lampard, Milner, Rooney, Defoe.
Germany
Neuer, Friedrich, Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Ozil, Podolski, Klose, Muller, Lahm, Mertesacker, Boateng.
Referee: Jorge Larrionda (Uruguay)
