Linesman who missed Lampard ghost goal explains not seeing ball cross line

Drama and controversy are never too far away when England meet Germany on the pitch, whether it be ludicrous score-lines and goal-line disputes, there is rarely a dull moment.

The pair meet again on Tuesday evening in the round of 16 at Euro 2020, marking the first time they have met at a major tournament since the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, which would end up becoming one of the most memorable games in England's recent World Cup history for all the wrong reasons.

After falling two goals behind to a rampant Germany side courtesy of goals from Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski, a Matthew Upson header offered Fabio Capello's Three Lions side a glimmer of hope.

Just minutes later, the travelling England faithful, along with everyone watching back home thought the comeback had been sealed when Frank Lampard's effort cannoned off the bar and at least a yard over Manuel Neuer's goal-line.

Capello turned his back in celebration, fists clenched in relief that his half-time team talk would be one delivered with the scores level, before realising play had continued – the goal had not been given.

The image of Lampard, hands on head, shocked at the situation provided with one of the most iconic images of the entire tournament.

The man responsible for England's misery was Uruguayan linesman Mauricio Espinosa, who failed to spot what many of the 46,000 in attendance could see.

A year on from the incident, Espinosa spoke to Goal, offering an insight into his perspective on the moment that still irks Three Lions die-hards over a decade later.

When asked what he made of the incident, Espinosa said: "The play developed outside the penalty area, 20 metres from the goal-line, and involved a move where Lampard hit a surprise shot which hits the crossbar, bounces down, and then re-enters the field.

"I missed the most important part, which was the bounce. The ball was already back into the field and was gone. I had not seen anything because I was fulfilling my role controlling offside, in a position far from the goal-line. Factors occurred which meant I could not see the ball."

When discussing how he felt once he was made aware the ball had gone over the line, Espinosa revealed: "I saw the replay after the game.

"We had a TV in the dressing room, but as a rule we waited until after the game, because we believed watching a play at half-time, whether good or bad, does not help. We had a feeling of helplessness when we saw it. We had been prepared for a lot of things but you cannot prepare for that."

Thankfully for Gareth Southgate, eleven years on VAR would ensure any similar incident would award the goal to England, while those who witnessed Lampard's effort eleven years ago are left to simply wonder what might have been if the scores were level at 2-2.

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