Lampard calls for introduction of goal-line technology

FRANK LAMPARD has called for the advent of goal-line technology after being denied a crucial equaliser as England crashed out of the World Cup to Germany yesterday.

“I knew straight away that my shot was over the line, clearly a yard or so. It baffles me that it wasn’t given and it was a big deciding factor. I won’t stand here and say it is the reason why we got knocked out.

“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.”

Lampard added: “I think it is time to bring in goal-line technology. We had a meeting before the World Cup when we were told about a million different rule changes that hardly affect the game.

“The big one, the one that affects the game today, hasn’t been brought in so it is a no-brainer.”

Germany legend Franz Beckenbauer said his nation had “taken England apart” in Bloemfontein. “England were overwhelmed – they just could not come to terms with our style of play,” he said. “We have taken England apart. We were simply better in every aspect.”

However Beckenbauer was relieved that Germany added two goals to their half time lead to render that Lampard strike insignificant.

“The linesman really has to see the that goal which was not given,” he said. “It was a clear goal. Fortunately, we added two more, otherwise there would be a lot more discussion about it.”

Gunter Netzer, who won the World Cup for Germany in 1974, rejected calls for the use of goal-line technology as a result of the controversial moment.

“Despite this goal, I am firmly against video evidence,” he said. “As bad as it was, football is all about drama; football is not perfect. Even footballers make many errors and that is what brings emotion to the game.”

German coach Joachim Low confirmed Germany had targeted a defensive weakness in English ranks which his young side exploited to the full.

“We knew that the midfielders – Gerrard and Lampard – always support the forwards and that their midfield would be open,” he said. “We knew there would be spaces.’’