'Oh my God', what the Uruguayan referee said when he saw his World Cup blunder on TV as England are crushed 4-1 by Germany

By Christian Gysin and Tom Kelly

The sequence which will leave England fans burning with resentment for decades: German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer sees Frank Lampard's shot bounce off the crossbar and over the line before he grabs the ball and continues play


The referee who shattered England's World Cup dreams gasped 'Oh my God!' after seeing a replay of Frank Lampard's disallowed goal.

Uruguayan Jorge Larrionda was said to be aghast when shown the image of the ball at least a yard over the line.

But while some fans blamed him for turning the course of the match, there was a furious backlash at the England manager and team after a disastrous World Cup campaign which ended in a 4-1 thrashing by Germany - their heaviest ever defeat in the competition.


Wayne Rooney complains to referee Jorge Larrionda about disallowing Lampard's goal during the Germany clash


As Fabio Capello appeared at a press conference, one furious England fan summed up the national mood as he shouted at him: 'I paid £5,000 to come and watch the team you put out here and they were useless.

'You should be ashamed of yourself as manager.'

Bookmakers William Hill slashed the odds on Capello being sacked to 7/4 as fans leaving the stadium and big screens put up around England said it was time for him to go.

But Capello insisted last night that he would not quit despite the team's woeful performance.

Asked directly if it was time to go, the 64-year-old Italian said: 'Absolutely not.'

He said he would seek urgent talks with Club England chairman Sir David Richards to decide his future, adding: 'I need to know whether the FA have confidence in me or not.'

His refusal means the FA could be left with a £12million payout if it decides to axe Capello after an extraordinary decision to renegotiate his £6million-a-year contract five weeks ago, removing a clause which would allow either party to terminate the contract after the World Cup.

The England team, every one a millionaire, also faced severe criticism for their lacklustre performance.


No goal: Lampard's 39th-minute effort wasn't given, despite clearly being over the line


Feeling blue: David Cameron said he was 'gutted' at the result after breaking away from the G20 summit in Toronto to watch the game. By unhappy coincidence, he was joined in front of the TV by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who apologised to him after admitting Lampard's over-the-line shot should have been a goal


Disbelief: England fan Emma Bains reacts while watching the World Cup match against Germany


But Capello and his men could still escape being the villains of the piece because of the extraordinary goal which should have been.

It came a minute after England had pulled back the score to 2-1 following two early goals by the Germans.

Lampard's shot hit the bar before dropping and clearly crossing the German goalline.

Linesman Mauricio Espinosa - also from Uruguay - did not give the goal and his compatriot Larrionda waved play on.

Their mistake was so bad that German Chancellor Angela Merkel even apologised to Prime Minister David Cameron as they watched the game together at the G20 summit in Toronto, Canada.

The incident brought back memories of England's crucial third goal in the 1966 World Cup final scored by Geoff Hurst against Germany.


Dejected: John Terry and ambassador David Beckham leave the ground on the team coach after their defeat


As the teams left the field at half time, a clearly angry David Beckham waited for the officials and motioned with his arms apart just how far the ball had crossed the line.

William Hill said it would pay out to customers who bet on Lampard scoring against Germany.

An estimated television audience of 30million had watched the crucial match on the hottest day of the year so far.

Motorways emptied and shopping centres across England were transformed into ghost towns as all eyes turned to South Africa.


Fans: Festival-goers at Glastonbury took time out from the live music to support England - but it was all in vain


Defeat: The crushing disappointment is clear as football fans in Bristol watch the score go from bad to worse


Downcast: England fans in Queens Square, Bristol watching the fateful game


Blown it: An England fan looks on dejected at the final whistle


At the Glastonbury Festival, 50,000 revellers turned their backs on the bands to pack into a field where the match was shown.

Thousands more congregated at special fan parks, including 13,500 in Castlefield, Manchester, and 7,000 in Queen Square, Bristol.

Falling out of the tournament will be a blow not just to fans but to the economy. But the consolation for England's followers was that at least they didn't lose to Argentina in the next round.

For a traditional village fete in Hertfordshire, the effect was particularly dramatic.

At 2.15pm in Shenley, hundreds of families had packed on to the playing fields for ferret racing, a tug-of-war and a hog roast.

But by 3pm, the tombola was deserted, leaving only a handful of forlorn-looking stallholders to pack up and go home.

In Bournemouth, thousands of hopeful England fans left the beaches to see the game - then wished they hadn't.

At the Pig and Whistle pub, close to the beach, Phil Hoyle, 35, who runs an events company in the town, said: 'That was awful to watch.

'I don't mind us losing when we are beaten by a better side - but I do mind when the players didn't really try.'

At the Manchester big screen, thousands left before the final whistle as it became obvious that England were heading for ignominious defeat.


Game over: Wayne Rooney reacts after England's defeat


Getting the blues: Mick Jagger watches the England team on their way to defeat


Disappointment: England fans in Manchester react as Germany score another goal


Among them was teacher Thomas Jones, 28, from Preston, who said the England players should 'hang their heads in shame'.

He added: 'They think they are world-class players but their performances don't justify their massive salaries.

'I am embarrassed to be English today.'

But Martin Delfrate, 42, from Macclesfield, blamed the disallowed Frank Lampard goal for England's exit.




'If it was 2-2 at half time we would have come out and would not have been slaughtered like we have been today,' he said.

At Glastonbury, 55-year-old Terry Jenkins said: 'If it wasn't so painful I'd laugh.

'The players should be met by boos when they arrive back at Heathrow.
'I might even go myself to tell them how I feel.'


Oh no! For some fans watching the game in London, it was all too much


Desolate: Fabio Capello, pictured after the game, reacted angrily to the referee's controversial goal decision


source: dailymail