Australia line-up: Schwarzer, Neill (c), Cahill, Culina, Beauchamp, Emerton, Wilkshere (Garcia, 82'), Kennedy, Valeri (Chipperfield, 66'), Carney, Bresciano (Holamn, 66')
Serbia line-up: Stojkovic, Vidic, Ivanovic, Stankovic (c), Lukovic, Jovanovic, Zigic (Pantelic, 67'), Obradovic, Krasic (Tosic, 62'), Ninkovic, Kuzmanovic (Lazovic, 77')
It was do or die time for both of these nations and despite winning, Australia's 4-0 defeat came back to haunt them as they crashed out on goal difference. Serbia just needed to draw based on the Ghana result but they just couldn't find that edge. Both teams looked sharp and looked for the offensive straight away, Milos Krasic looked his most dangerous down the wing for Serbia and Schwarzer had to be on hand to keep the young Serb out. Krasic then looked to turn his talent to providing and Kuzmanovic wasted a good opportunity as he fired wide. Schwarzer again had to prevent Ivanovic from scoring again provided by CSKA Moscow's Krasic. Krasic's direct opponent seemed the targeted area for Serbia and Ivanovic also pressed the Aussie full-back and playing in crosses of his own. Serbia thought they found the lead but Krasic was ruled out for offside, but it was very marginal and could have even been onside, this may have been the fatal blow for Serbia. Australia's best player was undoubtedly Tim Cahill and he had the best Australian chance of the half but again it came to nothing.
With Australia on the back foot in the first half, Pim Veerbek musn't have been happy with his players and Australia responded with a much better second half. They decided to adopt a shoot on site policy with long range shots making an impact on Stojkovic but he could just about keep them out. That was until Tim Cahill registered with a trademark headed goal followed by his trademark corner flag celebration. Serbia came and attacked with venom but were inevitably caught on the counter and found themselves 2-0 down; Holman found possession on half-way before firing another long-range effort, but this one found the corner of net and Australia were hoping for Germany to score again against Ghana or indeed for themselves to get two more against Serbia. However that wasn't to be and Serbia were soon the ones who were snapping at Ghana's heels, former Manchester United winger Zoran Tosic made immediate impact from the bench and smashed a shot which Schwarzer helplessly palmed into the path of another substitute, Pantelic who slotted Serbia back in contention. Pantelic had a wonderful chance to level it and put Serbia through at Ghana's expense but he managed to miscue his shot horribly and Serbia were going home with Australia.
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