Germany beats England with near perfect game plan

BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa — Joachim Loew says his Germany lineup executed its gameplan to perfection in a 4-1 second-round World Cup win over England which he described as a "grandiose" performance.

The three-time champion essentially controlled the game Sunday, but did get a break when Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda declined to award a goal to Frank Lampard which would have allowed England to equalize at 2-2 before half time.

Lampard’s shot came one minute after Matthew Upson had pulled one back for England after earlier goals from Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski for Germany.

"We clearly controlled the game until England’s goal, then there was a short critical phase," Loew says.