Germany produced a performance of quality football movement to score four goals and beat England 4-1 in Bloemfontein.
Germany took an early a stranglehold on the game with goals from Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski in the first half hour to lead 2-0.
Matthew Upson then powerfully headed a cross home on 37 minute to hand England a way back into the game and moments later Frank Lampard appeared to have equalised for England with his shot hitting the crossbar and bouncing over the line before coming out.
But the goal was not given by the referee / linesman combination - who could not see the bounce obscured by diving German keeper Manuel Neuera - a bizarre reverse image of the Geoff Hurst "goal" (that wasn't really) which had helped England to a 4-2 victory over West Germany in the 1966 World Cup Final.
Lampard struck the bar again in the second half - this time from a free-kick but Germany had the last word.
Germany won possession in their own penalty area, and swept to the other end for Thomas Mueller to fire past James from Bastian Schweinsteiger's pass.
And it was all over three minutes later, when Mesut Ozil raced clear of the the out-paced Gareth Barry to slide a cross to the far post and provide Mueller with a simple finish.
It had been a close match, and a pulsating event, but Germany's quality on attack combined with an officiating error, meant that Germany had opened out to a 4-1 lead and the game was over as a contest.
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