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[Cernunnos]

What should have been England 2-2, the Lampard crossbar goal, was not given. This was obvious in real time,  let alone the replays 5 seconds later. Still don't want to implement referrals?

What is worse, we will now have to hear about this for the next 50 years..

[ganavk]

worse is not hearing..worse is not allowing that goal. So muc ???h for FIFA and its competency.

[WicketView]

1966 in reverse?


Seriously, this is the third clear goal that was not given in the tournament. The following two goals were off counter attacks against
a desperate England leaving no one behind. So, it would have been quite a different match if the scores had been levelled.

[Blwe_torch]

This is not 1966 in reverse.............this is Germany at it's best!

Das ist Fusball!

[WicketView]

This is not 1966 in reverse.............this is Germany at it's best!

Das ist Fusball!

Germany was obviously playing very well ... if they play Argentina that would be a game to look for. BTW it is Fussball if you use the English alphabet.

[Blwe_torch]

Ich weiß! Ich weiß!

Fußball it is!

[Cernunnos]

Yes, England lost it after that goal was disallowed. A 2-2 into half-time would have been a different story. That said, Klose & Podolski were masterful. Over time I have come to appreciate German football, like an acquired taste.

A Germany v Argentina (they better win) encounter in the QF is too premature.

[dextrous]

A Germany v Argentina (they better win) encounter in the QF is too premature.

Agree, that's a semi-final or final encounter

[Cernunnos]

Another ridiculous (non) off-side call. The replay is shown in big screen and the stadium is in uproar. How can you prevent technology from intervening?

I repeat, the referral system is the solution. Cricket has shown the way.

[WicketView]

Yes, England lost it after that goal was disallowed. A 2-2 into half-time would have been a different story. That said, Klose & Podolski were masterful. Over time I have come to appreciate German football, like an acquired taste.

There is no doubt that Germany were the deserving team. That said, the score-sheet is a bit biased. Both the later goals came of quick counter-attacks with the England defence having moved forward. On the contrary, Germany would have had to penetrate their crowded 5 man defence if the scores had gotten on par.

I am not so sure you have come to appreciate 'German football' with time .... the German football style itself has evolved quite a bit since the late 1980s. It is much more fluid and entertaining today than it was a decade ago. And they even manage to miss penalties . So it could be more that German football has evolved to your liking (I would put myself in a similar bracket).

A Germany v Argentina (they better win) encounter in the QF is too premature.

I don't think so. Germany, Argentina, Brazil, Netherlands and Spain/Portugal are all big sides. You cannot accomodate 5 teams in the semis, so some of these teams have to meet up in the quarters. If you notice, the only 'easy' quarter final is Uruguay vs Ghana. And perhaps Spain/Portugal have an 'easy' opponent in Paraguay/Japan? But they would have had Portugal/Spain to beat before that.

[WicketView]

Another ridiculous (non) off-side call. The replay is shown in big screen and the stadium is in uproar. How can you prevent technology from intervening?

I repeat, the referral system is the solution. Cricket has shown the way.

Tennis before cricket?

I think this may be the only way out. There have been too many wrong decisions in this world cup to hang on in this way. And I think FIFA is to blame for complicating the rules. If a player in an offside position meant offside then maybe Tevez would have been offsided  more easily. But now the linesman had to watch if he was doing something or not ...if the ball had gone in off Messi, he would not be off-side ... and all these considerations probably led to confusion. Till I saw tevez celebrating, I did not realize that it was off-side, because I did not clearly see if he had got a touch.

Now, the funny thing is that Tevez should not have headed the ball and hoped that it goes in on its own or wait for the defenders to get first touch ... and heading it was a mistake, because it surely killed the situation. He got rewarded for it.

[justforkix]

There is no doubt that Germany were the deserving team. That said, the score-sheet is a bit biased. Both the later goals came of quick counter-attacks with the England defence having moved forward. On the contrary, Germany would have had to penetrate their crowded 5 man defence if the scores had gotten on par.

No, I think German forwards just exposed the Eng D or lack thereof and tore them into shreds. They were getting exposed every few minutes. If I remember, one of the counter attack goals, Barry just lost the ball !! I'm sure they would've easily penetrated the 5-man D if needed, like they did while scoring the 1st 2 goals. Even Eng counter-attacked, but never could press forward. Showed the difference in the 2 teams.

I am not so sure you have come to appreciate 'German football' with time .... the German football style itself has evolved quite a bit since the late 1980s. It is much more fluid and entertaining today than it was a decade ago. And they even manage to miss penalties . So it could be more that German football has evolved to your liking (I would put myself in a similar bracket).

Actually, this German is more free flowing than any other I've seen even recently. Awesome to watch.

I don't think so. Germany, Argentina, Brazil, Netherlands and Spain/Portugal are all big sides. You cannot accomodate 5 teams in the semis, so some of these teams have to meet up in the quarters. If you notice, the only 'easy' quarter final is Uruguay vs Ghana. And perhaps Spain/Portugal have an 'easy' opponent in Paraguay/Japan? But they would have had Portugal/Spain to beat before that.

But Arg-Ger meet in 1 QF. The otehr QF is possibly Holland-Brazil !! Anyways, wherever they meet, both should be fun games.

[WicketView]

There is no doubt that Germany were the deserving team. That said, the score-sheet is a bit biased. Both the later goals came of quick counter-attacks with the England defence having moved forward. On the contrary, Germany would have had to penetrate their crowded 5 man defence if the scores had gotten on par.

No, I think German forwards just exposed the Eng D or lack thereof and tore them into shreds. They were getting exposed every few minutes. If I remember, one of the counter attack goals, Barry just lost the ball !! I'm sure they would've easily penetrated the 5-man D if needed, like they did while scoring the 1st 2 goals. Even Eng counter-attacked, but never could press forward. Showed the difference in the 2 teams.

Oh there is no doubt that Germany was a far superior side. And they obviously have the fire power to penetrate the English defence. This does not mean that they would ... we have all watched capable teams missing out on stringing the last bit.

As for the English losing the ball on the attack, that is much more common than in defensive play. The reason Germany scored as easily was that they did not have to go through the defence.

And the English counterattack? Simple: they  suck.   

I am not so sure you have come to appreciate 'German football' with time .... the German football style itself has evolved quite a bit since the late 1980s. It is much more fluid and entertaining today than it was a decade ago. And they even manage to miss penalties . So it could be more that German football has evolved to your liking (I would put myself in a similar bracket).

Actually, this German is more free flowing than any other I've seen even recently. Awesome to watch.

Yes!

But I think the transition should be (dis-) credited to Klinsmann  (in some people's opinion) .

I don't think so. Germany, Argentina, Brazil, Netherlands and Spain/Portugal are all big sides. You cannot accomodate 5 teams in the semis, so some of these teams have to meet up in the quarters. If you notice, the only 'easy' quarter final is Uruguay vs Ghana. And perhaps Spain/Portugal have an 'easy' opponent in Paraguay/Japan? But they would have had Portugal/Spain to beat before that.

But Arg-Ger meet in 1 QF. The otehr QF is possibly Holland-Brazil !! Anyways, wherever they meet, both should be fun games.

Right. The other two should not be that type ... but Spain vs Portugal could be interesting, unless the Portuguese do their negative stuff.

[justforkix]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/412278-let-me-show-you-why-lampards-shot-is-not-a-goal

 

[Cernunnos]

Another ridiculous law in football - if you deliberately cheat to deny a goal (Suarez's "Hand of the Devil") why should the scoring team be made to take a penalty? Award the goal to them. 

Mind numbingly stupid!! Hope the Dutch oranje army goes Boer on these Uruguayan asses.

[WicketView]

Another ridiculous law in football - if you deliberately cheat to deny a goal (Suarez's "Hand of the Devil") why should the scoring team be made to take a penalty? Award the goal to them. 

Cannot agree more. Ghana were robbed today. Loose rules combined with the lack of an emphasis on honour is proving a terrible combination. I don't blame Suarez, I blame FIFA entirely. Did not Maradona do the very same thing against USSR?

Mind numbingly stupid!! Hope the Dutch oranje army goes Boer on these Uruguayan asses.

[dextrous]

They were not robbed. Suarez got a redcard...Ghana got a chance at penalty. They missed. end of story. are you going to call Maradona's 86 a theft too?

[Cernunnos]

I am criticising the law, not the referee.
Suarez jumping in glee in spite of being red-carded will remain the most distasteful image of this football WC. Cheating got justified.

Cricket got it right - if you handle the ball, you are given out, not penalised.

[vincent]

Very sad for Ghana. They desrved to win. That goal should have been given since the ball was already inside the goal when it was pushed out.

[vincent]

Handball defence South American style:

   

[WicketView]

They were not robbed. Suarez got a redcard...Ghana got a chance at penalty. They missed. end of story. are you going to call Maradona's 86 a theft too?

Of course I would say that was cheating ... and clearly the referee was wrong. He should not have awarded the goal and booked Maradona. Where things get somewhat more convoluted is that I can't say for sure that England would have won. In this case I can.

[WicketView]

I am criticising the law, not the referee.
Suarez jumping in glee in spite of being red-carded will remain the most distasteful image of this football WC. Cheating got justified.

Cricket got it right - if you handle the ball, you are given out, not penalised.

Again, I would not blame Suarez. I would blame FIFA. Maradona did the same thing in 1990, and they did not bother to look into the rules. They did not penalize him in any way post match, and this has been worn almost as a badge of honour. So Suarez is just playing by the FIFA cultural book.

[Cernunnos]

I am criticising the law, not the referee.
Suarez jumping in glee in spite of being red-carded will remain the most distasteful image of this football WC. Cheating got justified.

Cricket got it right - if you handle the ball, you are given out, not penalised.

Again, I would not blame Suarez. I would blame FIFA. Maradona did the same thing in 1990, and they did not bother to look into the rules. They did not penalize him in any way post match, and this has been worn almost as a badge of honour. So Suarez is just playing by the FIFA cultural book.

True, I have directed most blame to the law (FIFA).
But anyway, this that shouldn't stop me from sneering at an immoral culture?
Yes, the rot started with Maradona and the glorifying of Hand of God. Suarez's
post-match attempt to co-opt Maradona's legacy ("I now own the Hand of God") was disgraceful, but it had to happen.

[dhruvdeepak]

this sport is a joke. a group of ruffians, cheats and crybabies.

i hope holland embarrass uruguay to the point which they wish they hadnt made it to the semis. fkn suarez.

[dextrous]

you guys are acting like when sachin gets given lbw wrongly.

[Cernunnos]

you guys are acting like when sachin gets given lbw wrongly.

An article on the topic.


http://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/worldcup/article/831696--kelly-cheating-pays-off-at-the-world-cup



CAPE TOWN

The playwright Sophocles had this to say on the subject of cheating: “I would prefer to fail with honour than win by cheating.”

No wonder Greece hasn’t won a World Cup.

Cheaters are prospering here. Doing better than that. They’re winning.

Luis Suarez’s handball save at the goalmouth — the one that Ghanaian Asamoah Gyan could not convert via penalty — is the most egregious example.

Australia’s Harry Kewell was sent off for a similar play earlier in the tournament. He instinctively moved his arm away from his body as the ball approached, ironically also against Ghana. That wasn’t cheating, per se. It was instinct.

Suarez, on the other hands, looked as if he was playing volleyball, deflecting a shot away from his net with extended palms. As the should-have-been goal took place at the very death of added-extra time, it was quite literally a game saver.

After winning on penalties, the Uruguayans showed themselves completely clueless as to the requirements of decency. Instead of leaving quietly, they carried Suarez off on their shoulders. The Cheater-in-Chief.

A day later, a tone-deaf Suarez rubbed salt in Ghana’s wounds.

“The Hand of God now belongs to me,” Suarez said. “I made the best save of the tournament.”

Classy.

While Suarez was braying like a jackass, FIFA unholstered its big finger and began wagging. First, they threatened to ban him for more than the compulsory one-match period a red card necessitates. Later in the day, they decided one was enough. Let that be a lesson to you. Or not.

Suarez’s mockery of sportsmanship is only the most flagrant of the cheater’s clinic being put on here.

There have been other examples, though none so pivotal to a result.

Ivory Coast’s Kader Keita simulated a facial injury after being bumped in the chest by Brazil’s Kaka. It wasn’t so much enraging as it was sad, watching an in-his-prime professional athlete roll around on the ground, peeking out every once in a while to see if his trick had worked.

Ditto Spain’s Joan Capdevila, who got Portugal’s Ricardo Costa sent off in similar circumstances.

Back to Ghana. What is it about these guys and handballs? They won their match with Serbia owing to a penalty shot after Zdravko Kuzmanovic reached out and handled the ball in the Serb area. It was a bang-bang play.

To watch Kuzmanovic’s reaction, you’d have been convinced that he hadn’t been within a mile of it. I was. Replays clearly showed the contact. Where’s that honour Sophocles talked about? It’s absent on the pitches of South Africa.

After Suarez’s blatant cheat, former Uruguayan international Gus Poyet twisted himself in logical knots trying to explain it for everything but it what it was.

“I was a little bit disappointed with some people talking about cheating. I think that is absolute rubbish. That is taking one for the team,” Poyet told BBC.

Let’s stop and pause for breath here, before we start screaming.

“You are telling me the player had to let the ball go in?”

Well, yes.

“Is that football?”

According to the rules, yes.

“I think you’re missing something really important here.”

Probably not.

“I think you call it cheating when you try and score a goal with the hand, to take advantage when the referee cannot see that. Everybody saw that. The referee saw that. He gave the red card to (Suarez). (Gyan) had the chance to score the penalty and didn’t. We are missing something really important. When you are naïve, you don’t win football games.”

Well, there you have it. The old ends and means argument. That’s about the only place you can lay your hat, though it’s a filthy spot.

FIFA’s taken a proper raking this tournament for its general intransigence and willful blindness. But when speaking about the sport’s place in a general context, FIFA has got it exactly right.

The Fair Play code of football’s ruling body states: “Winning is without value if victory has been achieved unfairly or dishonestly.”

Is there any grey area here? It’s not about Suarez’s punishment. It’s about giving back to Ghana what’s been stolen from them. That’s impossible. It’s also impossible to ignore.

Forget philosophy. This requires poetry.

“Honour is like an island, rugged and without shores, once we have left it, we can never return.”

Too many here are already floundering in that wretched sea.

[WicketView]

I am criticising the law, not the referee.
Suarez jumping in glee in spite of being red-carded will remain the most distasteful image of this football WC. Cheating got justified.

Cricket got it right - if you handle the ball, you are given out, not penalised.

Again, I would not blame Suarez. I would blame FIFA. Maradona did the same thing in 1990, and they did not bother to look into the rules. They did not penalize him in any way post match, and this has been worn almost as a badge of honour. So Suarez is just playing by the FIFA cultural book.

True, I have directed most blame to the law (FIFA).
But anyway, this that shouldn't stop me from sneering at an immoral culture?

Absolutely should not stop you and me from sneering at the culture. What I am trying to say is (a) the culture is horrible.  (b) Given the culture Suarez is justified.  If you want to change the way the Suarez behaved ...try to be serious about changing the culture, don't just pay lip service to the concept. The last statement is not directed to Cernunnos as an individual but collective football fans and administration.

Yes, the rot started with Maradona and the glorifying of Hand of God. Suarez's
post-match attempt to co-opt Maradona's legacy ("I now own the Hand of God") was disgraceful, but it had to happen.

Agree ... same holds for Fabiano.

[WicketView]

you guys are acting like when sachin gets given lbw wrongly.

You just don't get it do you? The miscarriage of justice where Sachin is given lbw wrongly is completely insignificant compared to what we are discussing.

[Cernunnos]

I am criticising the law, not the referee.
Suarez jumping in glee in spite of being red-carded will remain the most distasteful image of this football WC. Cheating got justified.

Cricket got it right - if you handle the ball, you are given out, not penalised.

Again, I would not blame Suarez. I would blame FIFA. Maradona did the same thing in 1990, and they did not bother to look into the rules.

One reason why FIFA is toothless is because the UK still has a veto over any rule change.
Yes, football is still living in the age of British veto power, similar to cricket in 1993 when England ( & it's dominion Australia) could veto anything in cricket.

[kban1]

Why isnt the German goalkeeper's name in this discussion of cheating ?

Personally, I am willing to blame him a lot more for cheating than Suarez.

[Blwe_torch]

Why isnt the German goalkeeper's name in this discussion of cheating ?

Personally, I am willing to blame him a lot more for cheating than Suarez.

Toni Schumacher?

[feverpitch]

Did Manuel Neuer do anything illegal that I missed, kban?

[poondu]

Why isnt the German goalkeeper's name in this discussion of cheating ?

Personally, I am willing to blame him a lot more for cheating than Suarez.

Toni Schumacher?

come back to 2010 .. you are back in the 80's..

[kban1]

Did Manuel Neuer do anything illegal that I missed, kban?

Yes Sir

just after the lampard goal, neur spoke to the world media in which he admitted that he saw the ball bounce over the line and then gloated over how his actions tricked the referee into not giving the goal  -- paraphrased

"it looked like it was tight but if anything, the ball bounced inside the goal, not outside, so I knew it was a goal, likely. I acted as if nothing happened and I knew my quick thinking could save the day, so I picked up the ball as fast as possible and drove it to the England half , thereby keeping the game flowing at a very fast pace and not allowing the referee any time to pause or ponder. I believe my quick thinking was crucial in tricking the referee in not giving a goal."

I think the one of the articles is here --this is Neur bragging within hours of the match ending.

http://g.nz.sports.yahoo.com/football/world-cup/blog/studsup/post/German-keeper-claims-he-fooled-referee-?urn=fbintl,251715

German keeper claims he 'fooled referee'

By Cameron McMillan

Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer claims he "fooled" referee Jorge Larrionda into not ruling a crucial goal for England in this morning's second round match.

England were knocked out of the tournament by their old rivals 4-1 but the result could have been different had referee Larrionda correctly ruled a goal by Frank Lampard in the first half.

Lampard chipped Neuer in the 38th minute of the first half, hitting the cross bar before the ball crashed down over the goal-line.

The German keeper claims his quick actions meant the referee kept play going.

"I didn't react because I just wanted to concentrate on carrying on and making the game fast," said Neuer after the match.

"I realized it was tight, but I was quite sure it was over the line. I think that perhaps the way I carried on so quickly fooled the referee and made him think it was not over.

"After the game I was in doping control and saw it on the television. And yes, of course it was over and should have been a goal for England. It was lucky for us and unlucky for them."

The goal would have tied the match up at 2-2 and would have been a massive momentum swing for the English after trailing 2-0 only four minutes earlier.

Neuer insisted Germany would have won the match in any case.

"It was one incident and yes, it was important," Neuer said.

"But I believe we were the stronger team and deserved to win the game even without this.

"If you look at the way the match played out then I think our team would have scored the goals we needed just like we did. When you have good luck in football it is important to capitalize on that luck, and we did."

Germany will meet Argentina in the quarterfinals on Sunday morning NZT, the same team they eliminated at the exact stage four years ago.

[kban1]

Why isnt the German goalkeeper's name in this discussion of cheating ?

Personally, I am willing to blame him a lot more for cheating than Suarez.

Toni Schumacher?

come back to 2010 .. you are back in the 80's..

Nope, you are not keeping up with the events 

[WicketView]

Did Manuel Neuer do anything illegal that I missed, kban?

Yes Sir

just after the lampard goal, neur spoke to the world media in which he admitted that he saw the ball bounce over the line and then gloated over how his actions tricked the referee into not giving the goal  -- paraphrased

"it looked like it was tight but if anything, the ball bounced inside the goal, not outside, so I knew it was a goal, likely. I acted as if nothing happened and I knew my quick thinking could save the day, so I picked up the ball as fast as possible and drove it to the England half , thereby keeping the game flowing at a very fast pace and not allowing the referee any time to pause or ponder. I believe my quick thinking was crucial in tricking the referee in not giving a goal."

I think the one of the articles is here --this is Neur bragging within hours of the match ending.

http://g.nz.sports.yahoo.com/football/world-cup/blog/studsup/post/German-keeper-claims-he-fooled-referee-?urn=fbintl,251715

German keeper claims he 'fooled referee'

By Cameron McMillan

Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer claims he "fooled" referee Jorge Larrionda into not ruling a crucial goal for England in this morning's second round match.

England were knocked out of the tournament by their old rivals 4-1 but the result could have been different had referee Larrionda correctly ruled a goal by Frank Lampard in the first half.

Lampard chipped Neuer in the 38th minute of the first half, hitting the cross bar before the ball crashed down over the goal-line.

The German keeper claims his quick actions meant the referee kept play going.

"I didn't react because I just wanted to concentrate on carrying on and making the game fast," said Neuer after the match.

"I realized it was tight, but I was quite sure it was over the line. I think that perhaps the way I carried on so quickly fooled the referee and made him think it was not over.

"After the game I was in doping control and saw it on the television. And yes, of course it was over and should have been a goal for England. It was lucky for us and unlucky for them."

The goal would have tied the match up at 2-2 and would have been a massive momentum swing for the English after trailing 2-0 only four minutes earlier.

Neuer insisted Germany would have won the match in any case.

"It was one incident and yes, it was important," Neuer said.

"But I believe we were the stronger team and deserved to win the game even without this.

"If you look at the way the match played out then I think our team would have scored the goals we needed just like we did. When you have good luck in football it is important to capitalize on that luck, and we did."

Germany will meet Argentina in the quarterfinals on Sunday morning NZT, the same team they eliminated at the exact stage four years ago.

Was not aware that he bragged about it, though I was sure that he knew. This is what I mean about the culture of football. This guy, Fabiano ... they do their stuff and feel they can brag about it. In that sense Suarez' situation is much better .... he got exactly what the rules decree.

[kban1]

Was not aware that he bragged about it, though I was sure that he knew. This is what I mean about the culture of football. This guy, Fabiano ... they do their stuff and feel they can brag about it. In that sense Suarez' situation is much better .... he got exactly what the rules decree. 

Indeed, thats my point

neur knew and hid, took part in an act of supposed deception and then bragged.

fabiano had to have realized that the ball touched his hand. At least he had the good sense to keep quiet

Suarez is by that definition the least likely person to be called cheat --the rules are screwed up, but he indeed did get his punishment as per rules and it is definitely not his fault that ghana missed the penalty. His bragging is in awfully poor taste however.

And this does not even go into other forms of cheating. take the Dutch team for example -- this is not a futbol team, this is a team of synchronized swimmers, especially their superstar Robben who dived throughout the tournament, especially that match against Brazil and almost baited Melo into the red card through his antics.

The other aspect of this Dutch team that no one seems to talk about is their defensive play / defensive philosophy --which consists of hacking and bringing down any opposition player whenever possible and whenever the slightest threat arises --irrespective of whether the opposition player has the ball or is merely in position to receive the ball for a breakaway run.

If Suarez is cheating for blocking the ball with his hand, then what is the Dutch team's defensive philosophy of cynically knocking down any player within 30 yards of a break against the Dutch to be categorized as ? Good defensive tactics ?

Both have done the same thing -- prevented the possibility of a goal (ok, probabilities vary --Suarez 100% goal chance, Dutch defense 80%+ chance) but in both cases they have played within the rules. So why cheat label for Suarez and no condemnation for such a cynical game plan by the Dutch ?

if anything the unwillingness of referees to brandish the red card for fouls on breakaway balls --as FIFA's advisories preach -- has conferred more advantage on "cheaters" like the Dutch. heck, forget the red card, 1/3rd or more of the time, the referee is * scared to show a yellow card for such fouls.

[Blwe_torch]

Why isnt the German goalkeeper's name in this discussion of cheating ?

Personally, I am willing to blame him a lot more for cheating than Suarez.

Toni Schumacher?

come back to 2010 .. you are back in the 80's..

@ Poondu and Kban,


I am straddling both worlds with ease!
Personally I don't see what Neuer did as something illegal ......or viscious.............he was just doing his job.
But not Schumacher.............the way he kicked Patrick Battiston in the 1982 semi-final on his teeth, which almost killed the French forward ( not to mention, denied him a goal) was really the height of shame.
If you compare the 2 incidents, you will know, what it is like being a villain-goalkeeper.

[Blwe_torch]

Did Manuel Neuer do anything illegal that I missed, kban?

Yes Sir

just after the lampard goal, neur spoke to the world media in which he admitted that he saw the ball bounce over the line and then gloated over how his actions tricked the referee into not giving the goal  -- paraphrased

"it looked like it was tight but if anything, the ball bounced inside the goal, not outside, so I knew it was a goal, likely. I acted as if nothing happened and I knew my quick thinking could save the day, so I picked up the ball as fast as possible and drove it to the England half , thereby keeping the game flowing at a very fast pace and not allowing the referee any time to pause or ponder. I believe my quick thinking was crucial in tricking the referee in not giving a goal."

I think the one of the articles is here --this is Neur bragging within hours of the match ending.

http://g.nz.sports.yahoo.com/football/world-cup/blog/studsup/post/German-keeper-claims-he-fooled-referee-?urn=fbintl,251715

German keeper claims he 'fooled referee'

By Cameron McMillan

Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer claims he "fooled" referee Jorge Larrionda into not ruling a crucial goal for England in this morning's second round match.

England were knocked out of the tournament by their old rivals 4-1 but the result could have been different had referee Larrionda correctly ruled a goal by Frank Lampard in the first half.

Lampard chipped Neuer in the 38th minute of the first half, hitting the cross bar before the ball crashed down over the goal-line.

The German keeper claims his quick actions meant the referee kept play going.

"I didn't react because I just wanted to concentrate on carrying on and making the game fast," said Neuer after the match.

"I realized it was tight, but I was quite sure it was over the line. I think that perhaps the way I carried on so quickly fooled the referee and made him think it was not over.

"After the game I was in doping control and saw it on the television. And yes, of course it was over and should have been a goal for England. It was lucky for us and unlucky for them."

The goal would have tied the match up at 2-2 and would have been a massive momentum swing for the English after trailing 2-0 only four minutes earlier.

Neuer insisted Germany would have won the match in any case.

"It was one incident and yes, it was important," Neuer said.

"But I believe we were the stronger team and deserved to win the game even without this.

"If you look at the way the match played out then I think our team would have scored the goals we needed just like we did. When you have good luck in football it is important to capitalize on that luck, and we did."

Germany will meet Argentina in the quarterfinals on Sunday morning NZT, the same team they eliminated at the exact stage four years ago.

I am not very sure abt the authenticity of this news-post. This hasn't come out in any main-stream newspaper.....has it?

[kban1]

It was in every major website in the US that was covering the WC -- and the report came out not recently but within 2-3 hrs of the end of the game. Not a new report.

here are a few more:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/worldcup2010/article-1290124/WORLD-CUP-2010-Manuel-
Neuer-admits-conned-referee-Frank-Lampards-shot.html

Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer admits, 'Yes, I conned the referee'
By Matt Barlow

Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has admitted he conned Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda into ruling out Frank Lampard’s ghost goal.

The Schalke No 1 claimed the ball was around two metres over the line while German legend and former coach Jurgen Klinsmann branded the referee’s blunder a ‘disgrace’.

Neuer said: ‘I tried not to react to the referee and just concentrate on what was happening. I realised it was over the line and I think the way I carried on so quickly fooled the referee into thinking it was not over.

‘Then I saw it on the television in the doping control office and saw what actually happened. And, yes, it was over. It should have been a goal for England. Probably about two metres.’


Frank Lampard led the predictable clamour for goal-line technology from inside the England dressing room. It was his shot that was ruled out — and it cost him his first World Cup goal.

Lampard’s 25-yard chip hit the underside of the bar and bounced at least two feet over the line before spinning up against the bar and into the grateful clutches of Neuer.

With the score poised at 2-1 at the time, it was a turning point in England’s defeat and will have repercussions for FIFA.

‘I think it’s time (for video technology),’ said Lampard. ‘Everyone can see it was a goal, which would have sent us in level at half-time.

‘We had a meeting before the World Cup when we were told about a million different rule changes that hardly affect the game. And the big one, the one that affects this game, hasn’t been brought in. So it’s a no-brainer.’

It was so far over the line that it is surprising referee Larrionda and his linesman Mauricio Espinosa did not see it without the aid of replays.

But the England players made their views clear. Wayne Rooney and Jermain Defoe pursued Larrionda at half-time, as did David Beckham.

‘I won’t stand here and say it is the reason why we got knocked out,’ said Lampard. ‘But if it had gone to 2-2 and we had still come out and played the way we did in the second half it would have been a different game.’

Yet FIFA have steadfastly refused to accept a move to goal-line technology. Just 24 hours before Sunday’s defeat, FIFA’s general secretary Jerome Valcke said extra officials could be brought in but not video.

 How much? David Beckham led England's protests at half-time
‘We did not say you could have a zero-fault system in the World Cup,’ said
Valcke. ‘Additional assistants could happen in 2014 to make sure these kind of things are not happening in refereeing.

'It doesn’t mean the use of video — that is definitely not on the table today — but one thing we are discussing is two additional assistants to support referees to make decision-making easier and to have more eyes helping him to make such decisions.’


England captain Steven Gerrard blamed linesman Espinosa for lagging so far behind play when Lampard took aim, less than a minute after Matthew Upson had pulled one back.
‘When you go two down and get a goal back you gain a lot of confidence,’ said Gerrard. ‘But then to see the ball bounce behind the line and the linesman is 20 yards behind play is very disappointing.

'FIFA will have to look at that. How can he tell if it’s over or not? I’m not an expert. I don’t know whether goal-line technology is the answer to everything.
'But goal-line technology would have made it 2-2 today and given us the confidence and belief that we could beat the Germans.

‘But for me to stand here and say that’s the reason we got beat would be a lie.’
Fabio Capello saw it clearly enough from his bench on the touchline, saying: ‘It was one of the most important things in the game. Little things decide the result always.
'We made some mistakes when they played the counter-attack. But the referee made bigger mistakes.’

Working as a pundit on ESPN, Klinsmann said: ‘That was a goal. It is a disgrace.’


http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2890/world-cup-2010/2010/06/29/2000981/germanys-keeper-manuel-neuer-i-fooled-the-referee-into

Germany's 'keeper Manuel Neuer: I fooled the referee into disallowing Frank Lampard's goal for England at World Cup 2010

It's all about the body language...

By Zack Wilson

29 Jun 2010 10:58:00

Schalke 04 goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has admitted that there was an element of gamesmanship involved in the way the referee disallowed Frank Lampard's strike for England against Germany on Sunday.

Lampard crashed a shot onto the underside of the bar, with the ball then bouncing over the goal-line.

Neuer feels that the way he, as Germany goalkeeper, reacted helped to sway the match officials into ruling out the strike.

"I tried not to react to the referee and just concentrate on what was happening," he told reporters.

"I realised it was over the line and I think the way I carried on so quickly fooled the referee into thinking it was not over."

Neuer also has no qualms about admitting that the ball was a good distance over the goal-line.

"Then I saw it on the television in the doping control office and saw what actually happened," he added.

"And, yes, it was over. It should have been a goal for England. Probably about two metres."