Socceroos vs Serbia: As it happened

 
Tony Tannous Columnist

By , 23 Jun 2010 Tony Tannous is a Roar Expert

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Tim Cahill sent off in Socceroos' World Cup opener

Australia's Tim Cahill reacts after getting a red card during the World Cup group D soccer match between Germany and Australia at the stadium in Durban, South Africa, Sunday, June 13, 2010. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

The Socceroos face Serbia in their final group match in Nelspruit at 4.30am Thursday knowing they need to win and hope that either Ghana knock off Germany or the Germans give The Black Stars a touch up in the other Group D match, played at the same time in Johannesburg.

I’ll have all the running analysis and permutations LIVE here, in the comments section below, so join me from 4.15am (EST) and be sure to share your thoughts before, during and after the game.

MY PREDICTION (as much in hope as anything); I saw enough in the performance against Ghana to suggest that the Roos can put a whole heap of pressure on Serbia and make life uncomfortable for them. Get in their face and, with a bit of luck, they might crumble. They were very lucky not to cop a few against a 10 man Germany, who over-powered them. If the Roos can control the pace of Milos Krasic and Milan Jovanovic on the flanks (and David Carney and Luke Wilkshire will be crucial in that respect), the game can definitely be won in central midfield, where Australia can get on top and over-run the likes of Zdravko Kuzmanovic, Dejan Stankovic and Milos Ninkovic.

3-1 to the Socceroos (2-0 will also do just fine), with the hope that Podolski actually converts his chances this time to give Germany a 3-0 hiding of a 10 man Ghana (with the Socceroos and Germany each scoring their final goal in the last 10 minutes – thrilling, edge of the seat stuff, with many twists!!).

That would give Ghana and the Roos four points each, with a -2 goal difference each, but the Roos would go through courtesy of having scored four goals (or three), to Ghana’s two.

A interesting sidenote, if the final scores are Germany 4-0, Australia 1-0, it will go down to a drawing of lots between Australia and Ghana, as both teams would be equal on points, equal on goal difference, with the result between them on Matchday 2 being a draw.

Follow Tony on Twitter @TonyTannousTRBA
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