Rio: Had Lampard's Goal Stood, We Would Have Won !

Rio: Had Lampard's Goal Stood, We Would Have Won ! 28/06/2010

Injured England captain Rio Ferdinand has laid blame on referee Jorge Larrionda and linesman Mauricio Espinosa for England's 4-1 defeat to Germany in Round 2 of the World Cup. Frank Lampard's shot clearly crossed the line, but his leveller was ruled-out as the referee waved play on. And Rio has said that if the goal stood, 'The Three Lions' would have been spurred on to win...

Miroslav Klose and Lucas Podolski put the Germans two goals to the good inside 32 minutes. Matthew Upson then scored minutes before the break. 58 seconds later, Frank Lampard lobbed Manuel Neuer and hit the crossbar, only for the ball to rebound into the goal. Neuer kept an expressionless face, and the Uruguayan officials ridiculously adjudged the ball not to have crossed the line.

Thomas Muller netted twice in the second half to hand a 4-1 win to the Germans, but Ferdinand believes the game would have been a whole lot different had Lampard's 'goal' been given. "If Lamps' goal had stood it would have been 2-2 and then the game would've turned on its head. We'd have been at full throttle. I'm sure we'd have gone on to win it."

Fabio Capello, Wayne Rooney and David Beckham protest, as the ball clearly passes the goal-line !

'How's he not seen it ?' - Rio

"I was sitting here with my mates and we were all screaming at the TV along with everyone else in the pubs going bananas. I'm a professional footballer, but I'm also a fan so I know what it's like. Your emotions get a grip of you and you think, 'How's he not seen it ?'. It wasn't like a counter-attack or something, he was up there with the run of play. He has to be able to see that !" he added.

Calls for FIFA to introduce Goal-Line Technology or Video Refereeing have been widely headed, even Prime Minister David Cameron has echoed the calls. Ever since 'The Hand Of Henry', fans have gone crazy about clear-cut decisions that referees and their assistants have failed to spot. However, FIFA president Sepp Blatter is said to be making too much media publicity that he won't introduce technology to the game. Shambles.

Speaking on the matter, Rio said: "I've always been an advocate of keeping the game as natural as possible. But it could have defined our tournament if that goal had been given. All the other sports have got it; cricket, rugby, the NBA and the NFL. I can't see it being too long before we get it."

Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney said to be unfit

Rooney: Unfit ?

The 31-year-old United defender also denied claims of an injury to Wayne Rooney, saying: "As far as I'm concerned Wayne is one of the best strikers in the world. There's no one more disappointed than me that we've gone out and Wayne hasn't been able to show the world the Wayne Rooney that everybody knows."

Ferdinand added: "He's shown glimpses but he's such a professional himself that he will be willing the next tournament to come round so he can go out and show everybody what he's about. When I was there he was training every day and the lads I've spoken to say he's been fine and there's been no problems."

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Xyth

28/06/2010 2:15pm

Rio is talking out of his arse.
"If Lamps' goal had stood it would have been 2-2 and then the game would've turned on its head. We'd have been at full throttle. I'm sure we'd have gone on to win it."

What stopped England at 2:1 down going full throttle? [German discipline, efficiency and desire I suppose.]

He should admit that England simply were not good enough!

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