Germany vs Serbia: Why Did Germany Lose?
Today’s surprising game between Serbia and Germany saw Serbia bring the 10-man Germany crashing back down to earth, with a narrow win in Port Elizabeth that blows qualification from Group D wide open. Germany were one of the best performers in the first round of group matches, handily dispatching Australia 4-0, the only side to score more than two goals in a game in the opening fixtures. But that thumping win against a woeful Socceroos has turned out to be a facade as they looked ordinary against a sharper Serbian side.
Germany kept it tidy and steady, patiently building up from the back and slipping through balls down the middle whenever the tiniest of gaps appeared, just like they did against Australia. Only difference is, the likes of Nemanja Vidic, Neven Subotic and Branislav Ivanovic weren’t caught square and they were all alert and quick in stepping up to cut out the threat.
A lot of the blame for this loss will be put down to card-happy referee Undiano Mallenco, who turned the game on its head when he sent off Miroslav Klose in the 37th minute. The Germans still looked rattled when a mere minute later, Milos Krasic whipped in a cross which Nikola Zigic after out jumping two defenders, nodded the ball down to a completely unmarked Milan Jovanovic, who was afforded all the time in the world to chest it down and volley it in.
How extremely un-German it was that Germany should lose a game because of sloppy defending and an unconverted penalty. Serbia, despite having one extra man on the pitch, completely took their foot off the gas in the second period and even on counter-attacks, they didn’t appear interested in getting a second goal. But the Nationalelf, without Klose to aim for in the box and without his aerial threat, were unable to take advantage even though they spent most if not all of the remainder of the game inside the Serbian half. It simply wasn’t Germany’s day.
Serbia - much improved from a display against Ghana that did the talent in their side no justice - twice hit the woodwork, with Jankovic curling left-footed on to the foot of Manuel Neuer's post and Zigic heading on to the bar from another Krasic cross. Unlike Germany, though, they were not made to rue their profligacy, seeing out a win that gives Antic's side a real chance of reaching the second round. As for Joachim Loew's side, their first World Cup group-stage defeat since 1986 means only a victory over Ghana next Wednesday will guarantee them a place in the last 16.
There will be a lot of talking points from this game for the weekend barbeque. Simple, straightforward challenges to win the ball back were pulled up for a foul and a booking; Klose’s sending off which led to Serbia’s winner; and a penalty which Germany failed to put into the back of the net. With Spain, France and Germany all losing three days in a row, the 2010 World Cup has now well and truly kick-started to life. So from this point onwards Germany, Serbia and Ghana all stand on three points ahead of the Africans' second group match against the Aussies on Saturday. Germany, though, will feel aggrieved at a result that almost entirely centered around Klose's dismissal.
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