Germany began their World Cup campaign in impressive form as they beat Australia 4-0 at the Moses Madhiba Stadium in Durban.

Joachim Loew’s side had been regarded as outsiders for the Cup but after this performance many will consider them as firm favourites for the trophy. Their attacking flair combined with their defensive solidarity gave them the perfect platform to beat a disappointing Australian side whose defensive record was put to the sword. The Aussie’s night didn’t get any better when their top goal scorer Tim Cahill was harshly sent off by Mexican referee Marco Rodriguez for a tackle on Bastian Schweinsteiger. Germany though had already scored two by then adding a further two after the sending off – a score line which reflected well on Germany’s domination.

The Aussie’s had set up to contain Germany with a 4-5-1 formation but their plans soon went to pieces when Lukas Podolski hammered home an 82 mph shot past Mark Schwarzer after only 8 minutes. However, the game could have taken a different shape if Tim Cahill could have converted a free header on 3 minutes, as Germany’s zonal marking proved lacklustre.

Germany took confidence though from their opener as they kept possession well commanding the opening stages, but when Miroslav Klose uncharacteristically missed from 6 yards the German pressure had seemed to had counted for nothing - that was until the 32 year-old quickly atoned for his error. Lahm, the stand-in German captain, whipped in a cross which Schwarzer misjudged, and together with the Aussie’s poor marking the Polish-born striker took full advantage heading into the empty net.

With the Socceroo’s now firmly pegged back they needed to exert some attacking influence upon the game, unfortunately though Germany possessed a player who made the Australians think only about defending - Mesut Ö zil. The 21 year-old was instrumental in Germany’s win as his incisive runs and delightful through balls made the whole world sit up and take notice. Ö zil’s constant threat nearly brought Germany a third as he chipped over Schwarzer but a desperate clearance from the Aussie captain Lucas Neil saw the Turkish-born attacker denied. He also rounded the Fulham goalkeeper a few minutes later but his touch was a little heavy despite taking Podolski’s through ball exceptionally well.

Australia’s coach Pim Verbeek changed things around after half-time bringing on Brett Holman for Vince Grella signalling a more offensive approach, however the Dutchman’s comeback plans were quickly blown away on 56 minutes when Chaill was sent off. This only gave the Germans further control over the game and after numerous missed chances Tim Muller finally put the game to bed with a low strike from the edge of the area. The Bayern Munich man turned Scott Chipperfield’s challenge coolly and struck the much talked about Jabulani onto the post for it to roll into the net.

The Socceroo’s now wanted the game to end whilst the German’s only wanted to carry on their momentum and this was shown when Cacau, after being on for only two minutes, slotted home from a Podolski cross. Once the impressive Ö zil was substituted though, the game petered out and meant the Germans could conserve their energy for Friday’s game against Serbia who may prove sterner opponents. But with Loew’s side playing some splendid football they could well repeat this type of result.

by
Declan Olley http://bleacherreport.com/articles/405608-...-0-match-report

The starting line ups have been announced, and in just about half an hour, the game at Nelson Mandela Bay stadium is set to kick off.

Germany Starting XI: 1-Manuel Neuer; 3-Arne Friedrich, 17-Per Mertesacker, 16-Philipp Lahm, 14-Holger Badstuber; 6-Sami Khedira, 7-Bastian Schweinsteiger, 8-Mesut Ozil, 13-Thomas Mueller; 10-Lukas Podolski, 11-Miroslav Klose.

Serbia Starting XI: 1-Vladimir Stojkovic; 3-Aleksandar Kolarov, 6-Branislav Ivanovic, 5-Nemanja Vidic, 20-Neven Subotic, 17-Milos Krasic, 10-Dejan Stankovic, 22-Zdravko Kuzmanovic, 14-Milan Jovanovic, 18-Milos Ninkovic, 15-Nikola Zigic.

Joachim Low follows one of football's unwritten rules: never change a side that has just won 4-0. There were whispers that Germany's Schweinsteiger might miss the game through injury, but he looks set to start, which leads me to assume that he is, in fact, fit.

Serbia have made three changes from the side that was defeated by Ghana: Neven Subotic replaces the suspended Aleksandar Lukovic, while Zdravko Kuzmanovic and Milos Ninkovic also come in.

They're out of the tunnel, the national anthems have been played, and in just a few moments, we will be set to kick off, so stay tuned! Refresh this page every few minutes for the latest updates, and be sure to let us know what you think.

And we're off! Germany, in their traditional white strip, get us going, and lose possession quickly. The Serbians start an attack with Krasic on the right clipping it back for Kuzmanovic to swing in a deep cross, that is headed into the box by Zigic, but easily collected by Neuer.

2 min - Kuzmanovic takes a shot from distance, but its nowhere close to goal. Then, moments later, Khedira has a decent chance at the other end after Podolski got a cross in, but his header was well over the bar.

5 min - This has started very positively indeed. Both sides are looking to attack, and after some decent passing play, Lahm tries a through ball to Klose that is overhit and leaves the striker chasing shadows.

7 min - First real chance for Germany, after some quick passing between Ozil and Muller, the latter plays in a cross that is headed away, but only as far as Podolski, whose volley is hard, low, and just wide.

10 min - The game has slowed a fair bit. Serbia are pressing the German players as soon as they get the ball, forcing them to pass backwards, and, so far at least, limiting their options very effectively.

12 min - After some good cross field passing, Krasic chips it to Ninkovic, who, running in from the left, tries a first time volley that goes over the bar. A minute later, Ivanovic loses out to Podolski in Serbia's half, and Ozil and Klose pass it neatly between them before the final pass is just overhit and out for a goal-kick.

14 min - Klose is booked for a foul on Jovanovic. Then Krasic wins a free-kick in an advanced position down the right, and Serbia pile men into the box for the set piece. The delivery is good, but goes past everyone and out for a goal kick.

17 min - Serbia have been much more positive in the last couple of minutes, winning a couple of free-kicks and passing it around in midfield. However, it doesn't lead to much, and then Ivanovic gets himself a yellow card for a lunge on Podolski.

19 min - This referee seems a bit card-happy, and this time its Kolarov who picks up a booking for attempting to decapitate Muller while winning the ball.

21 min - Germany win a corner which is cleared away easily, and then, as Krasic tries to mount a quick break, he is brought down by Khedira, who gets a card for his troubles. That's four (maybe five, don't bet your house on it) bookings in the first 20 or so minutes. Absurd.

24 min - Germany pass it around in the Serbian half for a long time, but are unable to find any space, and then Ivanovic breaks with a great run through midfield, but proceeds to lose it after a poor attempted pass to Zigic.

26 min - Germany have been underwhelming so far here, after all the talk of another rout, and a young team destined for glory. It's been very tight so far, but the Serbians have held their own, though neither side have created more than half-chances.

29 min - Muller botches two crosses in succession, hitting them too far over the box and out of play. Then, Klose puts the ball in the back of the net after a through ball from Ozil, but he is flagged for being offside. That was close!

32 min - I can't recall a single shot on target so far, as both sides are looking tentative after promising starts. Now, Serbia have a free-kick in a great position after Lahm's diving, late tackle on Krasic stopped a great break, and earned him a booking. Kolarov takes the free kick, and his shot is powerful, but just a little high.

35 min - Germany create a couple of decent half-chances - first Klose gets the ball in the box but loses it promptly, and then he heads Muller's cross toward the center but it is scrambled clear.

RED CARD! Klose is sent off, receiving his second yellow for bringing Stankovic down from behind - it seemed certain to happen considering the referee was handing cards out like candy, and Germany are down to ten men.

GOAL!!! Germany 0-1 Serbia (Milan Jovanovic 38')

Almost immediately after the sending off, Krasic, who has been excellent so far, skips past his marker on the right and crosses it in. Zigic heads down to Jovanovic, who takes it nicely on his chest and slots it past Neuer from a couple of yards out.

41 min - Shocking stuff here. The red card was certainly slightly harsh, and Germany still seemed to be reeling from it as Jovanovic was very poorly marked. Serbia have put themselves in a great position here.

43 min - The referee is doing a pathetic job here. That red card was extremely unwarranted, and I wager it might not be the last one the way he's been doling out the bookings here.

45 min - What a great couple of chances there! After winning a corner thanks to some great trickery from Muller, the cross falls to Khedira, whose volley is perfect but hits the woodwork and bounces back out. Then Muller tries an overhead kick, which is cleared off the line before Serbia finally manage to get the ball clear.

HALF-TIME - Germany 0-1 Serbia

An enthralling but rather contentious first half is brought to an end. Serbia took their goal well, but the Germans will be furious, as there is almost no one here at the office who believes that red card was warranted, and the referee has been having an absolute shocker so far. Anyway, the second half is certain to bring more entertainment, so stay tuned, and we'll be back in a few minutes as Germany try to overcome the one-goal deficit.

And the second half begins... The ten men of Germany are back on the pitch, as Serbia, in red, kick us off for the second period.

46 min - Germany start positively, as Khedira heads into the path of Podolski, who attempts a volley from the left. His shot is not too close to goal, however, and Stojkovic recovers the ball for a goal-kick.

49 min - The second half has started very scrappily, with both sides unable to maintain possession and attempting unnecessary long balls. It will be interesting to see whether Serbia try to sit on this 1-0 lead, considering their man advantage, or whether they try to get another.

52 min - Some great play there from Germany. Schweinsteiger ran through the Serbian midfield before passing it back for Ozil, who played it wide to Muller. Muller pulled back a low, driven cross which Schweinsteiger blasted towards goal, forcing Stojkovic to punch away. Then Khedira commits a foul in trying to get to the rebound.

55 min - Subotic is booked for a late tackle on Ozil. The free-kick is played short, and then Ozil plays a perfect through ball to Podolski, who was in on goal but shot wide. Very poor from Podolski there, he really should have equalized.

58 min - Again Podolski gets a great opportunity after Ozil plays a perfect chipped ball into his path, but his volley is into the side netting.

PENALTY! Vidic concedes a penalty for a handball in the box!!! That was awful defending from the Serb, who unnecessarily stuck his arm out after Podolski played in a great cross, and now Germany have a golden chance to equalize.

AND HE'S MISSED IT! Bad penalty from Podolski, it was low and to the right, and Stojkovic got down very well after guessing the right way and palmed it clear. It's all happening here!

63 min - Vidic will be a very, very relieved man after what just happened. Germany look a bit shocked by it all, and have resorted to passing it around in midfield.

65 min - Serbia enjoy a decent spell of possession, and come very,very close to scoring again. Krasic, who has had Badstuber running in circles all night, cuts in from the right and gets past two before laying it off to Jovanovic, whose shot clatters the post! That was a let-off for the Germans.

68 min - For the millionth time tonight, Podolski slams a shot high and wide, after some great build up play from Muller and Ozil has set him up in a nice position just outside the box.

70 min - Three substitutions - Cacau and Marko Marin replace Thomas Muller and Mesut Ozil, who have been two of Germany's finer players so far. For Serbia, Ninkovic is replaced by Gojko Kacar.

73 min - Joachim Low looks apopleptic on the touchline after Schweinsteiger is booked for a late tackle. Meanwhile, Zigic hits the bar! Krasic beat Badstuber again and lifted a perfect cross to the far post, where Zigic, rather than heading down only manages to hit the top of the post with his header.

75 min - Serbia make another change, replacing Kuzmanovic with Radoslav Petrovic.

77 min - Low makes his final substitution, bringing Mario Gomez on for Badstuber, who has had a torrid time dealing with Krasic down the right. A daring move...

78 min - Germany win a corner, which Marin swings in to no avail, as it is headed clear easily. The Germans certainly look as though they are out of ideas now, as Serbia make their final change, replacing the goal scorer Jovanovic with Lazovic.

81 min - Kacar misses another good chance to make it 2-0 to Serbia. Zigic, unmarked, nodded down a long ball, which Kacar volleyed over the bar. Then, Cacau makes a threatening run down the center of midfield before misplacing his pass into the path of Kolarov, rather than to Khedira.

83 min - Podolski's inswinging free-kick from deep on the right is brilliantly defended by the giant Zigic, who heads over his own bar. The resulting corner comes to nothing. Then, a few moments later, Podolski finds space on the left, and, yet again, takes a fizzing shot that goes wide.

85 min - Germany are looking desperate here, but not really able to create much - Marin plays in a good through pass, but Podolski cannot chase it down and is well screened by Vidic.

87 min - Friedrich carelessly loses the ball in his own half, and Serbia mount a break, with Stankovic playing it wide to Krasic, who releases Kacar down the right. Kacar has an unmarked Lazovic to aim at but plays his cross too far, and the opportunity goes to waste.

89 min - The tireless Lahm gets the ball on the right and plays in a cross, but Germany have no one challenging for the ball in the box, and Stojkovic comes out to collect easily. The Germans have been very poor in the last few minutes, overhitting passes and not really looking like they can get back into it.

90+1 min - Taking off Ozil, who was playing really well, was a slightly peculiar move and Germany haven't had any fluency since that moment. Lahm now plays in a good ball into the box, but there are too many red shirts in there, and after some scrappy, scrambling play, Stankovic goes to ground after clattering into Gomez, and its a foul.

90+3 min - That "injury" to Stankovic ate up almost 2 minutes of extra time, and the Germans are none too happy about it. However, to be honest, they have done nothing creative in the last few minutes.

FULL TIME - Germany 0 - 1 Serbia (Jovanovic 38')

The game is brought to an end after Podolski hits a cross straight into the arms of Stojkovic. The absurd red card completely changed the complexion of the game, and the fact that there were 10 yellows and a red proves what a poor performance that was from the Ref.

The Germans showed great character after going a man down, and managed to win a penalty, but for me Podolski was the culprit there. His penalty was poor, and he scuppered a number of chances that he really should have taken at least one of. Low's decision to take off Muller and Ozil, his side's two best players upto that point, was mystifying as well, and ensured an easy finish for Serbia as they held on to their lead.

That's all from me, stay tuned for player ratings, the full match report, and more.