Sancho crys foul on Crouch’s goal

And Sancho claimed that even if referee Toru Kamikawa had seen the foul, he may not have blown the whistle.

“We are gutted, just gutted with the result,” Sancho said. “It was really heart-wrenching. The first goal was definitely a foul by Crouch. He was all over my back but we didn’t get the decision.”

Crouch was mobbed by his team-mates after climbing above Sancho to head home an 83rd-minute cross from England skipper David Beckham to break the deadlock.

But pictures broadcast later on German television appeared to indicate Crouch had tugged at the dreadlocks of the Gillingham player before netting.

“The second goal (from Steven Gerrard) came when they hit us on the break as we tried to get back — but the first one was the crucial one so late in the game and I was fouled,” said Sancho.

“Crouch was all over me. He was definitely pulling me back and that meant I couldn’t get to him.”

Sancho didn’t stop there.

“But don’t forget, we are tiny Trinidad and Tobago and there is no way that the referee was going to blow that whistle and disallow the goal,” he said.

Crouch had given no indication of there being any controversy over his sixth goal in five games for his country when interviewed, before Sancho’s gripes came to light.

The Liverpool striker said, “It was great to score in a World Cup and it was a special moment for me. I was still thinking about a first-half miss of mine.

“But, with our delivery into the box, especially with David Beckham from the right, you are always going to get other chances and thankfully I managed to take the second one. I’ve got six goals in five games and I am really enjoying it. I am loving it playing for England at the moment and with the creative players we’ve got in the side, you are always going to get chances.

“Thankfully they’ve been going in and hopefully there are more to come.”

ESPN.COM