The World Cup Final came early for England and Germany; where the winner was guaranteed a meeting with Argentina or Mexico.

All in red, an unchanged England side looked for a repeat performance of their last group game, against Slovenia.

After an offside call on Wayne Rooney, Mesut Özil broke into the right side of the England penalty area and forced David James to close his legs, sharply.

Germany seemed to have more space for a while then Jermain Defoe and Frank Lampard worked together on the edge of the German area, for a free-kick.

From Frank Lampard's shot into the wall to a long goal-kick upfield by German goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer in the 20th minute and England went a goal behind; Miroslav Klose sprinting through Matthew Upson and John Terry to do the damage.

In the thirtieth minute, England defenders were at it once more; leaving too much space for Germany to move through and forcing David James to save again with his feet.

If the England defenders heard James, they didn't take much notice as they were split again two minutes later, when Thomas Müller had plenty of space to whip the ball across for Lukas Podolski to have time for a second touch, then drill the ball under David James, in off the post.

With ten minutes still to the break, England's ship seemed to be sinking fast and but for James at the helm it could have been four or five to Germany.

A short corner to Steven Gerrard in the 37th minute, allowed the England captain to loft the ball for West Ham's Matthew Upson to head England back into the game.

A minute later and England should have been level; Frank Lampard's shot hit the underside of the bar, landed over the line and bounced back onto the bar, only to be gathered by Manuel Neuer as it came back down.

Uruguayan referee, Jorge Larrionda either didn't see it or didn't want to see it. He certainly didn't give it. FIFA president Sepp Blatter was shown in the stands at the start of the match, but what a shame that the camera didn't pan to him when the ball crossed the line.

When the referee picked the ball up for the break, he was duly booed by the large England contingent.

Half-time: 2:1

Frank Lampard hit the bar again, from a free-kick eight minutes into the second-half, but this time Jabulani flew high into the sky.

England's central defensive jitteries continued and David James must have been starting to sound like a worn-out record.

England tried to expose the German defence; with Jermain Defoe looking for a chance, but Germany dealt with the movement far better.

England's threat at free-kick's was applaing, as all Frank Lampard could do once again was fire into the wall.

Germany poured forward again and again like water through a teabag. All too easily, Thomas Müller scored two goals within three minutes to avenge the Munich defeat of 2001 and give the English journalists plenty of ammunition to call their own shots.

Germany were by far the better team but England made it much too easy for them and should be made to walk home for their dismal display in South Africa.

Bloemfontein 2010 can go down in recent England's exit history with Gelsenkirchen 2006, Shizuoka 2002 and St Etienne 1998.

Germany 4 England 1