England vs. Germany FIFA World Cup: Germans Embarrass England, on To Last Eight

Germany put in a masterclass performance to knock out England with a emphatic 4-1 over their fierce rivals.

But England were harshly robbed of an equalising goal after blundering linesman Mauricio Espinosa failed to recognize Frank Lampard's effort clearly bounced over the line.

The incident that had echoes of England's World Cup final winner in 1966.

Shocking defending lead to Germany's first goal. Manuel Neuer's long goal-kick sailed over John Terry's head and Miroslav Klose showed great strength and coolness to hold off Matthew Upson and poke past David James.

Klose could have gone down there and that would have resulted in a straight red for Matthew Upson, but he bagged his 50th international goal instead.

England's defence was in absolute shambles again 12 minutes later. Germany attacked down the right and clever play between Ozil and Klose set up Thomas Mueller. With England's central defenders nowhere to be seen Mueller played the ball to Lukas Podolski and from a tight angle on the left, he smashed low past David James.

That seemed to fire England up and 5 minutes later Steven Gerrards cross from the right found an unmarked Matthew Upson who rose imperiously to head into the empty net.

A minute later in the 38th minute Frank Lampard hit a shot from outside the area, it went past Manuel Neuer, and came back off the underside of the bar and bounced about two feet over the line. But it wasn't given. Germany might say what comes around goes around, even if it takes 44 years.

England were the better side at the start of the second half and a ferocious Frank Lampard free kick struck the bar with Neuer well beaten.

In the 67th minute Germany stunned England, a Frank Lampard free kick hit the wall 25 yards from goal, Germany launched a scintillating counter attack and when Bastian Schwienstiger found Thomas Muller he coolly slotted it past David James.

Minutes later another raid of Germans came, Ozil easily outpaced Gareth Barry on the left tough line and ran towards goal. He than picked an unmarked Muller who slotted his second and Germany's fouth past David James.

Germany were at ease for the last fifteen minutes or so and calmly stroked the ball around. There was one more chance to come though for England but Manuel Neuer pulled of a superb save to deny Gerrard a consolation goal.

England will complain long and hard about the injustice of Frank Lampard's disallowed goal, with justification, but no amount of controversy should disguise how embarrassing England were for the better part of the game.

True, England were chasing the game but Germany were too quick, too mobile, too intelligent and issued a chastening lesson for Fabio Capello to take away from this World Cup