Klose 20       Upson 37

                                                                                                           Muller 67, 70

England’s World Cup campaign came to a shuddering halt in Bloemfontein, after an abysmal defensive performance. They were at the wrong end of an appalling decision from the match officials with the score still 2-1.

An exquisite lob by Frank Lampard bounced down off the crossbar twice, the first time well behind the goalline but, inexplicably, play was allowed to continue.

Until then, England had been outplayed. And the incident galvanised them into their best football of an otherwise desperate tournament.

But they were undone twice more on the break by a lively Germany side and fell to their heaviest-ever World Cup finals defeat.

England keeper David James made an early save from Mesut Ozil but was left exposed when Miroslav Klose ran onto a long punt by German keeper Manuel Neuer and toe-poked the ball home.

Lukas Podolski doubled Germany’s advantage with a left-foot shot from a narrow angle after a slick three-man passing move down England’s left.

Within five minutes, Matthew Upson pulled one back for England, heading home Steven Gerrard’s cross from a short right-wing corner. And moments later came Lampard’s “goal.”

Lampard was doubly unlucky to see his thirty-yard free-kick dip onto the crossbar on 51 minutes. And the game was much more even until two Thomas Muller goals in three minutes sealed England’s fate.

First Muller lashed a right-foot shot past James’ left-hand from Bastian Schweinsteiger’s pass and then he slid the ball in at the far post after Ozil broke free down the left.