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Winston Aldworth looks at three of the most heartbreaking goal-line decisions in soccer history.
England v Germany 1966
England's Geoff Hurst struck the underside of the crossbar in extra time at the 1966 World Cup final. German players insisted the shot, which bounced down off the underside of the crossbar and out into the field of play, had not crossed the line. The referee was unsure so the players ran to the Soviet linesman, Tofik Bakhramov, for support. Gravely, he shook his head and uttered one word that the Germans knew meant the World Cup was gone: "Stalingrad."
Liverpool V Chelsea 2005
Luis Garcia's goal in the home leg of the Reds' Champions League semifinal never crossed the line, Chelsea defender William Gallas clearing the ball smartly. But the referee had other ideas. "Using simple technology we could put a stop to wrong decisions," said a fuming Jose Mourinho.
How important was the goal? Liverpool went on to become champions of Europe.
Spurs v Man United 2005
Not so much a case for goal-line technology as for honest goalkeepers. Roy Carroll was caught flatfooted and well off his line by a Pedro Mendes speculator from halfway in the dying stages of a Premier League match at Old Trafford in 2005. The ball was comfortably more than a metre over the line when the sheepish keeper whisked it back into play and cleared.
The referee was unsighted, the goal-of-the-season disallowed, the game drawn, Mendes gutted.
