On June 27, 2010, two traditional titans clashed at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein in the Round of 16 of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Joachim Löw's youthful Germany produced a devastating display of rapid counter-attacking football to defeat Fabio Capello's England 4-1, but the contest will forever be defined by one of the most controversial officiating blunders in football history.
Germany raced into a 2-0 lead through Miroslav Klose's physical strength in the 20th minute and Lukas Podolski's precision strike in the 32nd. England responded when Matthew Upson headed home Steven Gerrard's cross in the 37th minute. Seconds later, Frank Lampard unleashed a magnificent 20-yard lob that struck the underside of the crossbar and bounced a full yard over Manuel Neuer's goal-line before spinning back out. Referee Jorge Larrionda and his assistant inexplicably waved play on, denying England a clear 2-2 equalizer.
As England committed men forward in search of an equalizer in the second half, Germany dismantled their defense on the counter. Young sensation Thomas Müller struck twice in three minutes (67' and 70') following razor-sharp breaks orchestrated by Mesut Özil and Bastian Schweinsteiger, sealing a comprehensive 4-1 victory.
Lampard's "ghost goal" caused widespread international outrage and became the direct catalyst that forced FIFA President Sepp Blatter to formally approve the implementation of Goal-Line Technology for global football.