By Tony Ubani

England bowed out of the World Cup in the second round in humiliating fashion as they were comfortably beaten 4-1 by Germany in Bloemfontein.

Despite the comprehensive scoreline, there was only one moment anyone could be left talking about, and that was a disallowed goal for England just before half-time with the match at 2-1.

Germany deservedly led with goals from Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski after just half-an-hour, but just before the break Matthew Upson headed home to give England some hope. Less than 60 seconds after Upson’s goal – Frank Lampard volleyed a shot post Manuel Neuer and off the bar into the goal, but the German keeper played on and Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda played on.

England's Frank Lampard, Jermain Defoe with Germany's Bastian Schweinsteiger during the match. Photo: Getty Images.

Replays almost instantly showed the ball was over a foot over the line, and England had been denied a clear goal. After the break England pushed on and looked the more likely to score, but then with 20 minutes remaining, two devastating counter-attacks – both finished by Bayern Munich’s Thomas Muller – sealed in the end a thoroughly deserved win for Germany. Germany had received a boost prior to kick-off as both their injury doubts, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Jerome Boateng, were passed fit and the former’s presence proved crucial as he dominated the midfield.

Joachim Low’s men started the more impressively, creating the first real opening on five minutes and they should have gone ahead.

A long ball from the back saw Mesut Ozil get behind the England defence, but he fired straight at David James with Ashley Cole frantically looking to get back.

England’s first chance was from a free-kick as Lampard was brought down by Schweinsteiger. But the Chelsea man fired straight at the wall.