Germany knock out dismal England
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Germany powered into the World Cup quarterfinals by crushing England 4-1 Sunday in a match that will be remembered for the goal not awarded to Frank Lampard.
Thomas Mueller finished two quick counterattacks within four minutes in the second half to sink England's hopes of beating Germany at the World Cup for the first time since the 1966 final and send the English to their worst ever defeat at a final tournament.
Miroslav Klose broke the deadlock after 20 minutes for Germany and opened the goal flush in a highly-anticipated match.
Lukas Podolski doubled the Germans' lead in the 32nd minute. Although England pulled one back only five minutes later through Upston's header, Thomas Mueller made a double within three minutes after the break to put the victory beyond the reach of Fabio Capello's squad.
Seven minutes before halftime, Lampard's blasting shot bounced off the underside of the bar and landed about half a meter over the goal-line.
That reminded of England's highly controversial goal in the 1966 world cup final against Germany, which was awarded and helped England eventually lift the trophy on home soil. Ever since then, Germany have had the hex over the Three Lions at the World Cup, winning in 1970, drawing in 1982 and triumphing in the penalty shoot out in 1990.
Joachim Loew's side can now look forward with confidence to a quarterfinal meeting with either Argentina or Mexico, while England will go home to lick their wounds and reflect on yet another World Cup defeat by their old nemesis.
Klose bagged his 50th goal for Germany and his personal 12th in the World Cup, only three short of Brazilian Ronaldo's record 15. The Bayern Munich forward could have even added two more but saw his efforts blocked.
Opposite to the tension before the game, both sides started lack of creativity and inspiration until when a Germany's long cross found dashing Miroslav Klose well, who held off Matt Upson in the box to poke the ball past David James.
At 2-1 down in the second half, Lampard had another chance to level the score but his free-kick hit the bar, again, and went wide this time.
The final stage of the match was all about Germans' break with pace and Mueller's brace were the fine conclusions of two lightening counter-attacks.
In the 67th minute, Bastian Schweinsteiger played a perfect pass for Mueller, who inside the area, smashed it off the body of David James and into the net. The 20-year-old grabbed his third goal in the tournament three minutes later when he whacked in Mesut Oezil's pass along the six-yard box.
