Czech manager's fury as referee turns blind eye to offside claims First Golden Goal earns the silver for Jurgen's Germans

As the Germans did cartwheels all over Wembley it could be seen that the stand side linesman had his flag hoisted in the air and for a fraught few seconds as the referee consulted his colleague it seemed as if the story might not yet be ended.

However, after he spoke to the linesman, Signor Pairetto decided that nothing untoward had taken place and pointed to the centre circle, to the great delight of the German captain Jurgen Klinsmann and his team-mates.

And so Germany completed the full circle. Three weeks ago to the day they played their first game of Euro96 by beating the Czechs 2-0 at Old Trafford and last night they managed it again, albeit after looking in serious trouble when the new republic took the lead soon after half-time, when Patrik Berger scored.

That was also from the penalty spot, the place which seems to have dominated these championships, but there was no doubt after TV action replays that, while Matthias Sammer had fouled Karel Porbosky, he had done so well outside the penalty box. However, the referee did not have the benefit of TV evidence and his decision stood.

The consequence, perversely, was good for the many neutrals in the stadium who had watched a first half of some skill but little excitement. The game altered radically after the penalty goal. Gradually, the Germans worked their way more and more into the Czech zone and it was no great surprise when they equalised from a Bierhoff header following a Scholl free kick.

Extra time beckoned and duly arrived with the golden goal at last living up to its title, although Petr Kouba might prefer not to have it on his cv.

For Bertie Vogts, the German manager, it was the climax of six years of severe pressure as he tried to win his first trophy and emulate his illustrious predecessor, Franz Beckenbauer.

Goal-scoring hero Bierhoff had no idea that there was any controversy surrounding the goal.``I didn't know the flag was up until afterwards - I was too busy celebrating,'' said Bierhoff. ``I just whacked the ball, and then I didn't see it until it dropped into the far corner.

``After we went a goal down I knew I would be going on. The first goal was one we had worked on in training, and I just gambled. But once it went to extra time I was sure we would win.''

The Czechs tried to put on a brave face, but they were still talking long after the end about the offside they believed the linesman had called on the winning goal.

Striker Stefan Kuntz was clearly standing in an offside position, with the linesman waving his flag to signal he had spotted the infringement.

Bierhoff and his team-mates set off in celebration as the Czechs pointed out the flag to the Italian referee, who then checked with his colleague before bouncing the Czechs out of the competition.

``I can't explain how he allowed it,'' said angry Czech coach Dusan Uhrin. ``I looked at the linesman after the goal and he had his flag up. Then he put it down, but raised it again - and the referee ignored him.

``I haven't seen a replay yet, but one thing is clear, the linesman's flag was up. I can't say if the celebrations from the Germans put too much pressure on him, but at least a minute passed before he gave the goal.''

Uhrin said that the Czech president, Vaclav Havel, had made all of the players feel proud when he came into the dressing room to congratulate them afterwards.

Keeper Peter Kouba claimed he did not see the shot that beat him clearly, believing it had been deflected. ``I could not say if it was offside or not but the flag was certainly raised.''

Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan paid tribute to Berti Vogts as Germany triumphed. The former England striker, who played in Germany for Bundesliga outfit Hamburg during his career, felt that Vogts deserved success in his third major tournament as a coach.

``Berti Vogts is a great sportsman and he has his reward now for a lot of hard work,'' said Keegan.

The victorious German coach said: ``Overall, the best team of the tournament has been crowned European champions. We have had great problems with injuries but the way these players have worked for each other they deserved their success.

``We always knew the Czechs would be strong, especially after we beat them in the first game. The difference was we had nearly all our players available then. Helmer and Klinsmann went through torture to help their team mates tonight.

``I felt the key moment for me was when Sammer came across to the touchline after the penalty was given, saying: `I didn't touch him and anyway it was outside the area.' I knew then we had the inner strength to come through.

``I did not see the linesman's flag up at the end. Maybe he wanted to tell the referee that it was not a penalty in the second half.''

Vogts still had the courage to admit that he was not a fan of the golden goal idea.``I still think a team should have the chance to come back and equalise.''

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson insisted that the Germans deserved credit for the way they have gone about the business of becoming European champions for an unprecedented third time.

He said: ``You have got to admire the Germans, their best spell, as against England, was after they lost the goal.''

Ferguson, however, was also critical of the ``sudden impact'' of the golden goal rule, which ITV commentator Brian Moore blamed for reducing the final to an ``anti-climax'' when Oliver Bierhoff struck four minutes into extra-time to give Germany victory.

Former England manager Terry Venables, still nursing the disappointment of a semi-final defeat at the hands of the Germans, believed the Czechs would be regretting the way they allowed substitute Bierhoff to equalise 17 minutes from time.

He said: ``I just felt in play Czechs were the better team. They just did not hold their nerve on a set piece. They lost their concentration and got punished for it.''