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