A Klose Game: Germany 0-1 Serbia 18/6/10

Germany line-up: Neuer, Friedrich, Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Ozil (Marin, 70'), Podolski, Klose, Muller (Cacau, 70'), Badstuber (Gomez, 77'), Lahm (c), Mertesacker
Serbia line-up: Stojkovic, Koloarov, Vidic, Ivanovic, Stankovic (c), Jovanovic (Lazovic, 79'), Zigic, Krasic, Ninkovic (Kacar, 70'), Subotic, Kuzmanovic (Petrovic, 75')

This game will probably be remembered for two other things rather than just the shock score-line; the card-happy Spanish referee and Lukas Podolski's bewilderingly poor performance. The first half went as expected with Germany immediately putting their effortless finesse into their passing as they sought to open up Serbia. Serbia did have a few chances however and their pace looked dangerous on the counter. Krasic played notably better than in his first game and looked like he could cause the German defence some damage. The referee however set the tone of the game straight away by brandishing yellow cards for which should probably have been just a warning. Klose did score a goal but it was correctly ruled out for offside and just six minutes later he received a second yellow, which probably shouldn't have been and Germany were all of a sudden a man down. Serbia took advantage straight away Krasic burnt his pace and whipped a cross in to the far post, Zigic headed down back across goal where Jovanovic was lurking to put Serbia ahead. Germany looked to level before half-time with a teasing corner form Ozil which was half cleared by Stojkovic, his punch went straight to Khedira who fired one against the crossbar.

The second half started off with intense German pressure as they looked for that equaliser but Stojkovic and Vidic produced heroics to keep Serbia ahead. That was until Vidic lost his head and produced a deja vu moment by leaping like a salmon and hand balling a cross just like in the Ghana game. Podolski, who had just missed a sitter form eight yards, stepped up to take the penalty. It was a very tame effort and unlike against Ghana Stojkovic kept it out and Serbia remained ahead. Krasic looked the most dangerous for Serbia as the game opened up and Neuer pulled off some good saves to keep Germany in it. Germany's best chances fell to Podolski who, on any other given day would have bagged himself two or three, failed to find the equaliser and Serbia escaped with four yellow cards but most importantly three valuable points.