Bleomfontein - Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer all but admitted he had a lucky escape after the goal that never was.

With England 2-1 down, Frank Lampard was convinced he had equalised when his shot beat Neuer before hitting the underside of the bar.

The ball bounced down and TV replays showed it had gone about two feet over the line. To Lampard's astonishment, Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda disallowed his effort.

It was a pivotal moment in the last-16 match as Germany went on to win 4-1 at the Free State Stadium.

Neuer was all smiles at the end of the game as England prepared to pack their bags and head home tomorrow.

Neuer said: "I tried not to react to the referee and just concentrate on what was happening - it was difficult. I knew it was close.

"Then I saw it on the television in the doping control office and what actually happened. I knew it was tight - probably about two metres!"

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