FIFA World Cup 2010 match 21 - Group D
Germany v Serbia, 18th June - Port Elizabeth

Germany: Neuer, Friedrich, Badstuber (Gomez 77), Lahm, Mertesacker, Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Ozil (Cacau 70), Podolski, Klose, Muller (Marin 70).

Serbia: Stojkovic, Kolarov, Vidic, Ivanovic, Subotic, Stankovic, Jovanovic (Lazovic 79), Krasic, Ninkovic (Kacar 69), Kuzmanovic (Petrovic 75), Zigic.

After the first two games in this group this meeting looked like a nailed on Germany victory. The resolute Serbian defence would surely make life more difficult for the German attack than Australia had previously, however.

Germany started in positive manner but immediately found it difficult to make inroads against a well organised Serbian defence. Podolski was well placed to shoot on the volley from a clearing header but the ball flashed wide even though the contact was sweet.

This would be as good as it got for Podolski who went on to endure a harrowing afternoon.

Serbia carved out a similar shooting opportunity for Ninkovic but his contact on the volley was badly miscued. Kolarov was not far away with a curling free kick as Serbia began to grow slightly in confidence.

With neither side able to fashion clear chances the main activity was coming from the referee who was filling up his notebook at a startling rate. The inevitable then happened ten minutes before half time when Klose picked up his second nondescript yellow card and suddenly the Germans were down to ten.

Almost immediately the lively Krasic got to the byeline to whip over a fine centre which the towering Zigic headed back across goal and Jovanovic was waiting to hook home from close range after taking a touch on his chest.

Germany mounted a spell of pressure just before half time and were desperately unlucky when Khedira leathered a shot against the underside of the bar following a corner and Muller saw his overhead kick from the rebound cleared off the line.

This second attempt wouldn't have counted anyway as the ref had seen fit to blow for high kicking against Muller.

Half Time: Germany 0 Serbia 1

The first twenty minutes of the second half were almost unbelievable as the eleven men of Serbia camped around their own box and encouraged the ten of Germany to come and attack them. There were no attempts to even mount counter attacks and as they continually gave the ball away cheaply inside their own half a German equaliser seemed inevitable.

Podolski leathered a cross shot wide with a colleague ideally placed in the middle and Vidic just about robbed Schweinsteiger as he was about to go clear from Lahm's great through ball.

Ozil was also beginning to ask questions with his probing distribution and created two chances in quick succession for Podolski who could not work the keeper on either occasion.

Then Germany got the break they needed when the otherwise excellent Vidic inexplicably handled Podolski's centre and the referee pointed to the spot.

Podolski was trusted with the kick but his effort was weak and, having gone the right way, Stojkovic could hardly help but make the save.

This miss seemed to deflate the Germans who were unable to maintain their dominance and Serbia finally began to make some use of the spaces left in the German defence. The substitution of Ozil also seemed to affect the Germans as none of their three subs managed a positive impact.

The tricky Krasic was Serbia's best outlet on the break and set up a chance for Jovanovic who was unlucky to see his sweet effort come back off a post.

Then Krasic produced a fine cross for Zigic but the beanpole centre forward could only clip the top of the bar with his header.

Zigic used his height to better advantage in nodding down to Kacar who volleyed over but Serbia were unable to put the game to bed.

Germany pushed forward hopefully in the final few minutes with Podolski driving yet another effort wide and might have had a second penalty for Stankovic's ill judged hack which left him injured but had actually been a foul itself.

The erratic Spanish referee saw nothing amiss, however, and Serbia had the victory which blows this group wide open.

Full Time: Germany 0 Serbia 1

Germany: Neuer 6, Friedrich 6, Badstuber 4 (Gomez 1), Lahm 7, Mertesacker 6, Khedira 7, Schweinsteiger 7, Ozil 7 (Cacau 1), Podolski 4, Klose 3, Muller 4 (Marin 1).

Serbia: Stojkovic 7, Kolarov 7, Vidic 8, Ivanovic 7, Subotic 6, Stankovic 6, Jovanovic 8 (Lazovic 6), Krasic 8, Ninkovic 3 (Kacar 6), Kuzmanovic 5 (Petrovic 5), Zigic 5.

Referee: Alberto Undiano (Spain) 3
This was a perfect example of how administering the letter of the law rarely helps a game of football. No commonsense in his decision making which became increasingly erratic in the second half.

Good: Whether it was right or not it's always nice to see the Germans get the fuzzy end of the lollipop from the referee.

Bad: I would have been embarrassed to be a Serbian for most of the second half as they refused to go over the halfway line against ten men.

Ugly: Marko Marin. Put a tache on him and he's a German Chuckle Brother. He played like a spastic as well.