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The all-time World Cup




May 27th 2005
Rome, Stadio Nazionale
ENGLAND - GERMANY
3-5 a.p. (1-1,2-2,2-2)

      GOALS                    8'  1-0  Bobby Charlton
                              14'  1-1  Lothar Matthäus
                              57'  1-2  Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
                              88'  2-2  Gary Lineker

      PENALTIES                    0-1  Andreas Brehme
                                   1-1  Gary Lineker
                                   1-2  Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
                                   1-2  Roger Byrne (miss)
                                   1-3  Lothar Matthäus
                                   2-3  Tom Lawton
                                   2-4  Gerd Müller
                                   3-4  Bobby Charlton
                                   3-5  Manfred Kaltz

      REFEREE                 John Langenus (Belgium)

      ATTENDANCE              35,000

      YELLOW CARDS            Byrne, Adams (ENG) - Vogts, Brehme (GER)




      ENGLAND (Coach: Alf Ramsey, system 4-4-2)

       1 Gordon Banks
       2 Bob Crompton
       5 Tony Adams
       6 Bobby Moore (cap)
       3 Roger Byrne
       7 Stanley Matthews       (-106)
       8 Duncan Edwards
      10 Bobby Charlton
      13 Cliff Bastin            (-64)
       9 Gary Lineker
      14 Tom Lawton
 
      Substitutes:
      15 Tom Finney              (+64)
      11 Wilf Mannion           (+106)



      GERMANY (Coach: Helmut Schön, system 4-3-3)
      
       1 Sepp Maier
       2 Berti Vogts             (-77)
       4 Karl-Heinz Förster
       5 Franz Beckenbauer (cap)
       3 Andreas Brehme
       8 Lothar Matthäus
       6 Fritz Walter            (-69)
      12 Wolfgang Overath
      11 Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
      13 Gerd Müller
      20 Helmut Rahn             (-63)
 
      Substitutes:
       9 Uwe Seeler              (+63)
      17 Jürgen Kohler           (+69)
      14 Manfred Kaltz           (+77)


MATCHREPORT


    One of the oldest rivalries in European football was the background of this confrontation between England and Germany. Unfortunately the match was scheduled in the small Stadio Nazionale in Rome, where just 35,000 spectators could watch it. FIFA thought about switching to another stadium but in the end left it the way it was. In the 60's and 70's some historical matches were played between these two, even a semi final in 1990. England had won the biggest title in the world in 1966 on home soil but the Germans took revenge four years later in Mexico when they beat Ramsey's men in extra time. Games were always close and this match, at this early stage, was considered to be worth a final and the topmatch in the round of last 16.

    To surprise of many Cliff Bastin was awarded a starting place because Tom Finney had not been able to convince. Ramsey still thought he needed offensive power on the left wing and tried Bastin. Lineker and Lawton formed a partnership up front again. In the German camp there had been some worry about Karl-Heinz Förster's fitness but he made it. Förster played with a mask which would certainly hamper him in aerial battles with Lawton but Schön still thought he couldn't do without solid central defender. Beckenbauer just as expected was back in defence and Rahn showed up on the left wing.

    The match offered everything one could expect from a English/German clash: great pace, chances on both sides, tension, sometimes beautiful play, a hard fight and a thrillerlike outcome. And ... goals. The opening minutes belonged to England and though Germany's defence looked sound England took the lead in the 8th minute. Matthews won his first duel with Brehme and Charlton arrived at the first post to head it in. Maier didn't look good, maybe should have saved it but allowed the ball to slip under his body. Germans wouldn't be Germans if they were not to come back quickly. Under guidance of Franz Beckenbauer they tried to win the ball as early as possible. Six minutes after England's lead it was all even again. Lothar Matthäus ran through the centre, went past Edwards and hammered it towards goal from 20 metres. Banks had no answer: 2-2 after 14 minutes only. A spectacular start of the game.

    The spectators were ready to see it go on like this, but after these turbulent first 15 minutes the match came to rest. Both teams seemed to be reluctant to keep up this incredible pace, realizing that this game could take more than 90 minutes. Most of all it was Beckenbauer who used the emergency break. He temporized the game and Germany used their midfield more now, rather than searching for their strikers at first time. Walter and Overath kept ballpossession and England were looking for the battle in midfield, Edwards as the first to do so. The more physical approach England chose got Byrne the first yellow card of the match for a late tackle on Müller, given by the excellent referee Langenus. Later in the first half Vogts got a yellow card, too. He escaped from being sent off, his foul on Bastin who had been at full speed could have earned him the exclusion.

    Rummenigge had a perfect opportunity to give Germany the lead but Banks turned his shot around the post for a corner. Both teams were equally strong but the defenders did very well. Förster controlled Lawton well, Germany were able to keep England from playing the long ball to the centre forward. Vogts followed Lineker as if he was his shadow. Germany looked just a little bit more dangerous but apart from Rummenigge's chance and a shot from distance by Brehme which saw Banks in the way again, they could not create real danger in front of Banks' goal. Half-time came with 1-1.

    In the second half the firework started all over again. Lineker just missed a cross from Matthews, Vogts came too short and would have been a beaten man. Edwards struck the upperside of the crossbar, Müller for once got an inch from Adams but his shot went over Banks' goal. Then, after 57 minutes, the German lead. Rummenigge got the ball from Beckenbauer, well before his defence now, and took on Byrne. The defender tried to push him to the outside but the strong Rummenigge went past him. With his left foot he finished the move: 1-2. Just the way Maier was at fault with the first goal, Banks looked like having a chance on this one, too. The ball went in from the post and suddenly the match looked like another effort from the brave English cut off by a very strong Germany. But they wouldn't let their heads hang down, they realized that this was a once-in-a-lifetime event and they could surrender just after an hour.

    Moore and his men now really increased the pace and even the German physical wonderboys suffered from it. Matthews set up one solo after the other, making Brehme look old, and provided perfect crosses. Maier majesticly saved from a Lawton cracker en Edwards struck the bar for the second time. Just a few moments later, a new chance for England but Lineker shot straight at Maier who seemed to have found back his form from the 1974 final. German counters were a rarity, but they were dangerous. Rummenigge appeared 1-on-1 with Banks but the goalkeeper won it this time. Uwe Seeler, who had come in for Helmut Rahn, headed the ball to the corner but Banks again came up with a brilliant reflex. When time went by Germany got stuck in defence more and more, but time was on their side and in the end it looked as if they would survive.

    Ramsey saw that Bastin was getting tired and Finney was ordered to do what he hadn't done so far during this competition: make the difference. He immediately went past Vogts and delivered a fine cross for Charlton, but Maier again had the last word. Helmut Schön knew that he needed more strength in defence and Kohler was brought in. Midfield general Walter, not at his best, went off. Berti Vogts got injured and was replaced by Manfred Kaltz. Just when everything was slipping through England's hands, as yet the equalizer. Who else than Lineker scored it. And it was a typical Lineker goal. Matthews sent the cross in, it threatened to fall over Maier and in the goal, but the goalie managed to tip it against the post. Finney arrived for the shot but Förster blocked. That was all Lineker needed to slide it over the line: 2-2 and extra time.

    Both teams, tired to the bone in their fourth match of the tournament, never stopped trying to score the winner. England were extremely unlucky when Tony Adams headed against the post from a Charlton corner. The ball touched the ground before the line, no reverse Wembley-goal this time. Germany got a great chance too when midfield dynamo Matthäus shot from the same position as with his first goal, this time Banks was there to keep it out. The pace remained high but at the end both teams lacked precision in the passes. Penalty kicks had to decide the outcome, neither of the teams had deserved to lose.

    Andreas Brehme and Gary Lineker, both great specialists, scored. Rummenigge made no mistake, but then the big blow: Roger Byrne saw his effort saved by Maier. Germany knew that the win would be theirs if they succeeded in scoring the remaining three kicks. And that was what happened. Matthäus and Müller gave Banks no chance and when Lawton and Charlton had scored too, it was all on Manni Kaltz' shoulders. The rightback seldom failed from the spot and this time he hit it high into the right corner. Germany were through to the quarter final against Italy. It had been the match everyone had hoped for. Germany were, like so often, cool when it mattered most but escaped elimination when England struck the post three times. In the end, Roger Byrne had to live with the agony that his miss cost England a place in the quarter final and a match with Italy. With these kinds of outcoming there will always be someone wearing the red nose, but this person will hardly ever be a German!

    Who will play Hungary in the quarter final? Argentina and Sweden play for a place in the next round in Paris, where Pierluigi Collina is the referee. Menotti had no troubles and will stick to the team who have impressed so much. Their attacking style has caused the opponents big troubles so far, but Sweden are of another kind. They are specialized in making the opponent look bad and play the zonal defence that can provide problems to Argentina. Still Maradona and Co. are favourites. Return next Tuesday and experience what goes on between Argentina and Sweden.




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