Germany v. Serbia 0-1 (18/Jun/10)

Second Round, Third Game, Group D, Day 8. (21 of 64)


Neuer, effortless.
[Photo: Getty Images via Soccernet]


When Löw and his players were over the moon due to that previous win, the reality check came quick and sudden when the Serbia National team stunned one-goal against the EURO runners-up. In what appeared to be one of the toughest contest for the Germans, Antic's men rose above the dismal and unlucky performance they gave against Ghana to edge title contenders Germany. The game was tempestuous; everything that appears in a Copa Libertadores match - moronic bookings, handballs, numerous shots at woodwork and so on - was present in this polemic tournament.

Löw's attacking tactics were not enough to counteract the struggle that the defensive Serbian apparatus provided. There was the feeling of a lucky evening for the Germans since many of the attacking options were deflected by inches. Another faulty mistake by the Mannschaft and it will all be over sooner than what they think. Ghana will poise a several threat to Germany's ambitions at Soccer City on the 23rd. Uli Hesse, as always, gives a polite and well informed verdict on the mistakes by Lahm's men.



Another view of the goal.
[Photo: Getty Images via Telegraph]


The first half was a competitive struggle between each of the offensive forces. While the Germans provided a solid display in the left side, the Serbians did the same in the opposite. During the first fifteen minutes the Mannschaft tried to go ahead with arrivals from the flanks. The scrappy match, mainly by the fact that three Serbian players were already booked by the 20th minute, took a slightly interrupted rhythm.

A minute before the goal Miroslav Klose collected his second booking of the day. It seems, with the repetitions, that the decision was a bit harsh to be fair. The lack of attention of the German centre-halves was the main culprit of the goal in the 38th minute. Badstuber missed the cross by Krasic and Zigic sent Ivanovic who shot at point blank. In spite of Neuer's acrobatics the lead was well deserved, particularly with that dismal defending. Before the following part, the Germans had the precious chance of scoring the equaliser. Unfortunately for Khedira, his shot went into the crossbar as three Serbians were defending ferociously almost inside the goal.



In the repetitions, Klose sent off seems "a bit harsh".
[Photo: EPA via Daily Mail]


If the first part was chaotic, the next one proved to be all the more strange. The Germans tried for large parts of the game to break the stalemate that, in the 54th minute, the defence led by Vidic posed. Podolski was set by Özil twice and in the latter opportunity the Köln striker hit the side-netting. Stojkovic became the hero as he stole the goal from Podolski in the penalty shot. This was originated by the silly handball of Vidic, similar to that which gifted Gyan the penalty in the previous match.

The following minutes were a dismal and desperate effort from the Germans to score. Where this seemed to happen really fast, it was the prowess of Vidic's commanding decisions that the scoreline remained still. The strange tactical disposition of the Serbians allowed them to counterattack any minute they wanted to. The main problem was the fact that Antic's men did make an outstanding effort to double their lead until the end of the match.