Germany’s shock loss to Serbia cracked Group D wide open and although there were no favours for the Socceroos, there was no harm done either as questions were raised over tactics and refereeing in a dramatic encounter.
In a group quickly developing into the group of death, Serbia capitalized on a man advantage to score the game’s only goal.
There was plenty of questions raised about Germany and even about the Socceroos and their tactics in the opening game.
First on the result – one that could leave all four teams locked on three points going into their final group games – if Australia can beat Ghana.
A German win would have been nice to send the Serbians into the final group game playing for nothing with no points on the board, but not to be.
Germany’s performance and sometimes tactics were a little surprising.
Against the Socceroos, they enjoyed a freedom not seen by any side in the opening group games of the tournament.
Perhaps it was confidence against what they sensed to be a weaker opponent, but the caution from the Germans against Serbia was a real shock.
The referee was dishing out cards in the opening stages, making the tackle from Miroslav Klose – for his second booking – poor, ill disciplined and not good enough from a player of his ability and experience.
Serbia’s goal came moments later when the giant Nikola Zigic nodded the ball down for Milan Jovanovic to volley home.
Ah, a target man? Who would’ve thought? Oh wait; the Socceroos have one of them.
Zigic wasn’t superb, but he was a problem.
A problem Josh Kennedy could have been in the Socceroos’ 4-0 loss – against defenders he has played against in the Bundesliga.
Even with the same number of players on the pitch, Serbia looked more likely.
The switch to a 4-5-1 was the right one – levelling the midfielders for each team.
The Socceroos, who were a team playing a 4-2-3-1, changed their formation to a 4-4-2, giving Germany an extra midfielder to run the show. And they did.
German boss Joachim Low could face scrutiny in the home nation.
Striker Lukas Podolski failed to convert his penalty – with his shot too close to the centre of the goals and easily saved, even after Vladimir Stojkovic had dived before the striker shot.
But why did Podolski step up? He may have been the allocated penalty taker, but surely a decision could have been made for a change.
Earlier, he had slammed three or four shots at goal wide.
He had failed to make Stojkovic work and his lack of confidence ended up in a shot not aimed closely enough for the corner of the net.
The referee, who had given out yellow cards like lollies to result in a red to Klose, kept them in his pocket in the second.
Despite so, Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic should have seen red for his deliberate handball that led to the penalty.
Next, Mesut Ozil came off for Cacau.
Why? Ozil had played a number of dangerous passes and set up a number of attacking forays for the Germans.
Podolski remained on the pitch.
The dramatic game has left the group wide open, but questions have been raised over the tactics of Low, and once again, Verbeek.
The situation for the Socceroos remains the same. Win and win. No harm done – except they will face a hungry Serbian side in the final group game.
NY
Guest
I thought it was deliberate. There seems to be an action certain defenders have where there arms are all over the place. Bad habit to get into. Particularly in this case as there was no one really threatening from behind Vidic. He owes Stojkovic a beer I would say. I thought the match would have been drawn if Germany got that penalty.
dasilva
Guest
I guess I put Vidosic along with the other candidates The thing with the young players. Is that I believe if they step up and used all the available talent they have and play completely to their potential. They are good enough to be regular starting players for a first division club in the top league. eg at the levels of Bresciano, Cahill, Neill, Emerton etc. So I do think Vidosic has potential to that degree. However, I just don't see any of them be good enough playing for a Champions League quality squad. Really, I think a team needs at least 1-2 players of that quality to expect to make it to the round of 16 at the World Cup.
Farqwar
Guest
You're right about Jamo, he needs to step up. Its up to him but he clearly has ambition to play in Europe and good season at Sydney and in ACL could allow him to. Fiesty can also be a problem he needs to focus on his goals and keep a level head. I haven't seen a lot of Kilkenny but reports of late have been positive so lets hope his time is coming. I also think if Vidosic can get game time at a decent club he will be a star in 4 years time. He has a very creative, attacking instinct and I think if he can find a bit of confidence from playing well at a high level he will be very good. But yeah, I guess we are talking outside the current 23.
dasilva
Guest
Yeah I like Scott Jamieson and he had a great first season for Adelaide. However, if he was really that good of the player. He would be playing for Bolton Wanderers in EPL instead of being offloaded to Australia in the A-league. For the few matches I seen him for the Socceroos, he didn't really step up. Maybe he will develop and be a late bloomer into a serviceable left back option like Scotty Chipperfield but I'm not entirely convince that he's the long term answer for the left back position. Then again I don't really see many other players stepping up (maybe Shane Lowry? but I haven't seen him play and apparently according to Jesse Fink he didn't play very well in a recent match for his club) Another player I guess to look out for is Neill Kilkenny who is getting a lot of high praise from Leeds United. Apparently during the FA cup where Leeds defeated Manchester United, Neil Kilkenny had a great game. Too bad there was a rift between him and Graham Arnold. Although I'm not too sure you can call a 24 year old a young player. He would probably be called up for the next manager of the socceroos.
Farqwar
Guest
Scott Jamieson? I know he had a pretty ordinary year at Adelaide, but good left sided player, fiesty with excellent work rate and skill. Hope he has a good year.
Dejan Kalinic
Roar Guru
Add Nathan Burns to this list.
Dejan Kalinic
Roar Guru
Spot on NY. Well said on Antic. The decision to play five in the middle was the right one and it paid off, plus, his players looked up to the task. Balkan trait - perhaps. Did you think it was deliberate?
ItsCalledFootball
Roar Guru
Beating Ghana and Serbia in a world cup when we are last in the group with minus 4 goal difference is not as easy as it sounds (no it doesn't even sound easy). But if we did (big if) and Germany and Ghana draw, we will finish top of the group and play the USA or England in the round of 16. What a turnaround that would be! I'll support the Socceroos no matter what, but I'd just like to see them play as well as they did in Germany 06, that's all.
JK
Guest
Most uncomplicated way to look at it, but indeed the truth.
dasilva
Guest
well sheek We don't have anyone that is exceptionally technically gifted. Guys like Mark Viduka and Harry Kewell just aren't there (There's no way Oar in the same class). Those player who are exceptionally gifted with handling the ball would already be starring and playing regular football for a decent club at a young age like those two were. So we do not have any superstars lining up. However people kind of forget that Australia has a lot of late bloomers. Cahill was playing for Millwall couple of years ago and only developed recently into a class player. Neill was known as a pretty reckless tackler for the Blackburn rovers until Hiddink turned him into a rather cultured defender (although Neill certainly isn't playing particularly well)Chipperfield was driving a bus a couple of years ago. These players succeed not because there excessively gifted technically but they learnt to play the game more intelligently and due to hard work and determination. So there is a possibility of developing solid squad players for the next generation but no gamebreakers I'm afraid. Which does mean that the next 4-6 years would be a struggle and simply qualifying to the next World Cup would be a good achievement. So who are the good youngster coming up. Ben Kantarovski seems to be an exceptional reader of the game and don't be surprised if he will be in the centre of defence or midfield at the next world cup. He was one of the standout players of the failed young socceroos campaign. Tommy Oar was highly hyped for his performance against Indonesia. However he did flopped at the youth world cup against better players. If he can improve his physique (I can see him being outmuscled) and improve some of his crossing he could be a serviceable player for the socceroos.0 Matthew Leckie also looks good and he did star in the A-league last seasons. He's got speed, a good finisher and has the physique. I think he needs to back it up with a great season this year. James Holland was once hyped up to be the next Cahill for his intelligent runs from midfield. he captain of the young socceroos but flopped at the youth World Cup. Now he is a reserve player for AZ Alkmaar although rumours has it that the coach is willing to promote him to the first team this season and that is why PIm selected him for the 31 man squad. Hopefully he can be a regular for that side and developed into a good socceroos. There's also James Troisi who i thought Pim should have selected him for a few matches. He was hyped to be the next Harry Kewell which means that he's a young plays in the same position as H. Kewell but not as good. He's playing regular football in the Turkish league last season. He fairly decent at dribbling, he has pace and not a bad finisher. In his first season he was looking pretty good scoring a hattrick for the club. However the season afterwards he's goal scoring record went from 6 to 0. HE has potential but he's hasn't yet kicked on and demanded a place for the Socceroos yet. In any case, the next generation. We may get a next Wilkshire, a next Chipperfield, next emerton, a next Neill or even a next Cahill from the next generation. Good, serviceable, hard working players for the socceroos but we won't be seeing the magic of Kewell or Viduka for a while yet.
AA
Guest
All Australia has to do is win, the destiny is back in our hands. Germany did us a favour.
sheek
Guest
Dasilva, I know you as one of the more knowledgeable football fans on The Roar. This is slightly off-topic, but as Verbeek keeps explaining, we don't have much depth in our country. Apart from guys like Williams, Oar & Jones (outside current team of 23), do we have any other decent youngsters of note coming through? Or can we expect hard times over the next 4-6 years? Question open to the forum.
Art Sapphire
Guest
Lets just hope these two refs get sent home. The World Cup does not need to be overshadowed by further reffing controversies. Enjoy tonight. I am off for a much needed nap.
Dejan Kalinic
Roar Guru
Unfortunately, AS, I was unhappy with refereeing in both of those games. You can't change your mind midway through a game with your yellow card production rate. Imagine playing - one half, you can't touch a player - and in the next, when it's 11 v 10, you can. Consistency wasn't achieved in ONE game by ONE ref. That's crap. The US should feel aggrieved. That was a horrendous decision. There was wrestling in the set piece - as there always is. If anything, it should have been a penalty. The ref should answer the captain of either team, it's his job. He didn't even speak - does he speak English? Outrage there should be because it wasn't good enough - and particularly not good enough for a World Cup.
Art Sapphire
Guest
Dejan, the spanish ref, Undianno would probably not have the guts to hand out a straight red for any offence. All he did was slow down the yellow card production rate in the second half. What was more contentious last night was the ref Coulibaly denying the U.S an 86th winner against Slovenia for no apparent reason. I'll be very surprised if he officiates another game. The outrage in the U.S press is massive. Here's a good example http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/soccer/world-cup-2010/writers/peter_king/06/18/slovenia.usa/
Dejan Kalinic
Roar Guru
That's an amazing stat on the ref! Sheesh! I said last night Germany has had, in both group games, Australia's version of Matthew Breeze. I'll ask you this: Had Vidic committed that offence in the first half... (difference to Kuzmanovic offence is that Vidic's was deliberate) Low could have done anything but taking Ozil off? His passing - whether threading the ball or playing it with extreme pace - was superb. Podolski was out of touch, he shouldn't have taken the penalty and shouldn't have played 90 minutes. Another point - the challenge on the left side of Serbian defence (slide tackle from behind, yellow card) in first half - wasn't it Tim Cahill-esque v Germany - if not worse?
Art Sapphire
Guest
The Vidic punishment was correct. It was not a red card offence. The ball was not goal bound. It was similar to what Kuzmanovic did against Ghana. The German's got their reward and Podolski fluffed it. This card happy ref ref should not be allowed to officiate another game. In the first half only 14 fouls were committed yet he managed to pull the yellow card out 7 times. Incredible. Lastly, when the German's went down to 10 men. Ozil was forced to take up a much more forward position. Low should have taken Podolski from his wide position put Ozil there. He then could have subbed Podolski for Cacau.
dasilva
Guest
To be honest Germany would have done a huge favour for the socceroos if Podolski scored the equaliser and the score remained that way That would have gaved us an option to beat Ghana and draw to Serbia (whilst hoping for Germany to beat Ghana) for us to make the knock out stage. Therefore giving us a chance to go through with one draw. Anyone wonder why Foster was absolutely fuming after that match and lashed out at Podolski? Now it's basically 6 points or bust. If we even draw one match then we are gone due to our poor goal difference.
Rusty0256
Guest
At least the Germans won't be treating their final Group match as a training run, happy to take a point. As long as Australia somehow gets the six points against Ghana and Serbia, we can count on Germany to come out with all guns blazing against Ghana.
sheek
Guest
Basically, nothing's changed for Australia. We were always a long shot to beat Germany, which always meant we had to win our next two games against Ghana & Serbia. Of course, what we didn't expect, was the manner - selection, formation, tactics , scoreline - of our shellacking aginst Germany.