2010 World Cup

During a 2010 World Cup match against Germany, England player Frank Lampard scored a goal, but the referee said the ball did not cross the line and it was ruled not a goal. The situation left Rory Williams bitter and sad and Amy Pond read that the call would not have happened if they had "goal line technology" to determine the truth. The goal would have tied the game 2-2, but instead England lost 4-1. Many fans, including Rory, felt the decision sealed the fate of the match before it was over. About a year in his personal timeline later, Rory would be forced to make a decision on a similar call for a goal in the 1966 World Cup Final. Although he was unsure the ball had truly crossed the goal line, remembering the Lampard no-goal in 2010 inspired him to confirm to the referee he had seen it. (PROSE: Extra Time)

Ostensibly, the England team of the 2010 World Cup were borrowed from their time by the Chronos Corporation to play at the New Wembly Space Stadium in 2050, with a team of computerised robots playing in opposition.

The Eleventh Doctor investigated as the eleven players from the England squad walked onto the pitch. Behind the scenes the Doctor used his psychic paper to pass himself and Amy Pond off as laundry service to gain access to the England changing room. The Doctor soon recognised a perception field generator with a big on / off lever. Without hesitation the Doctor turned it off and the players on the pitch were revealed to be multi-tentacled purple alien players. With an angry crowd outside in the stadium the Doctor and Amy made a sharp exit with the Doctor explaining he knew the England team were impostors when he spotted one of them had a tentacle and revealed the outcome of the World Cup to Amy. (COMIC: Foul Play)

Behind the scenes

The airing date of TV: The Lodger, in which the Eleventh Doctor played football, was two days into the FIFA World Cup 2010. As the episode finished, the first match, played between England and the USA, started on ITV.

As COMIC: Foul Play was written before the England team's performance at the 2010 World Cup, the outcome was never revealed but left open. Ultimately, it was Spain that won.