This was the day when the future use of goal-line technology was effectively signed and sealed. In a round of 16 encounter, England midfielder Lampard equalized against Germany. Only it wasn't given. Trailing 2-0, England managed to claw one back through defender Matthew Upson. The revived English then rampaged forward in search of the equalizer and Lampard shot hard from the edge of the penalty area. The ball struck the underside of the bar and television replays showed it bouncing a yard behind the German goal line. The referee, however, waved play on, a blow that England failed to recover from, eventually losing 4-1. FIFA President Sepp Blatter apologized and reopened the debate over goal-line technology, which is being used in Brazil. For the Germans, however, it was poetic justice. In the 1966 final between England and West Germany, Geoff Hurst's second goal cannoned off the crossbar and was adjudged to have crossed the line despite German protests. England would go on to win 4-2.
(AP)