Review: Day 3

Group C

           Algeria   0-1   Slovenia

The worst game of the World Cup so far was played out in Polokwane on Sunday afternoon, and hopefully that is an accolade it holds until after July 11th.

Both teams were already thought of as the weakest European and African sides in attendance and they proved that theory to be true. Ninety minutes of scrappy, sub standard football was played out with barely an attacking threat in sight. How either side managed to score a goal is a mystery in itself.

Once Algeria were relegated to ten men Slovenia should have taken control, but that was not the case. One speculative shot from captain Robert Koren was enough to move the Slovenes to the top of the group.

Judging from their performance today however, they won't be there for long. England and even the US should be rubbing their hands in anticipation of what should be two routine fixtures for them.

   

Group D

                          

           Ghana   1-0   Serbia

Ghana’s narrow victory over Serbia in Pretoria leaves them in pole position for a place in the second round of the World Cup.

With the Germans expected to progress from Group D, any one of Ghana, Serbia and Australia were believed to have the potential to join them in the knockout stages, but Asamoah Gyan’s late penalty has given the Black Stars the advantage after the first set of fixtures.

The importance of these fixture in the context of the final standings was evident. Both sides were nervy and at times apprehensive, especially Serbia. Defeat was inconceivable for both the Africans and Europeans, but Serbia are facing down the barrel, with an impressive German team next in the firing line.

Ghana’s victory was fully deserved following a courageous display in Loftus Versfeld. With Sulley Muntari and Stephen Appiah relegated to the bench, a youthful Ghanaian team looked far more comfortable in possession and quicker on the attack than their Balkan opponents.

After a bright opening to the game from both sides, the game became scrappy. Set piece opportunities appeared to be the only realistically route to getting on the scoreboard and both sides had chances, particularly new Birmingham City recruit, Nicola Zigic.

In the second half, the pace and confidence of Ghana’s young stars began to shine through. Last September, the country’s under-20 side won the World Cup in Egypt and a handful of that side have made a seamless transition to the full international squad.

With Dede Ayew raiding down the left, the powerful Prince Tagoe doing the same on the right and Gyan lithe and dangerous up front, the Black Stars looked the more dangerous. The quick feet, clever passing and direct approach the Serbia captain Dejan Stankovic had warned his team-mates about last week was much in evidence.

The game changed 15 minutes from time when centre half Aleksandar Lukovic was sent off for a second bookable offence. Raddy Antic’s team showed a greater threat once they went down to ten men however, as an otherwise disappointing Milos Krasic forced an impressive save from Richard Kingson, and Nemanja Vidic headed slightly over from the resulting corner.

With just six minutes remaining, the Serbian penalty area descended into chaos, as substitute Zdravko Kuzmanovic inexplicably handled the ball under little Ghanaian pressure.

Rennes striker Gyan, who scored his country’s first ever goal in a World Cup four years ago against Czech Republic, stepped up and converted the spot kicked emphatically. From that point there was only going to be one winner, and the match winner even hit the post in the final moments.

The final whistle sparked scenes of mass celebration both on the pitch and in the stands. Gyan proclaimed the day a victory for Africa, while John Pantsil performed a lap of honour waving his nations flag.

Gyan said: "This win is very important. We took the three points and everybody is happy.

"We knew what the Serbians would do. They play a long ball but tactically we were perfect today. Everybody is happy for us and every African is happy. All Africa is behind the Black Stars."

Ghana will now enter Friday’s game with Australia in the knowledge that a win will guarantee their progression even before facing Germany. Serbia, on the other hand, looked forlorn at the final whistle. An uphill task awaits the side previously considered tournament dark horses.

 

           Australia   0-4   Germany

Germany made their World Cup intentions clear as they tore into a disappointing Australian team for 90 minutes in Durban, providing the tournament with its stand out performance thus far.

Goals from Lukas Podolski, Miroslav Klose, Thomas Muller and Cacau were the least die mannschaft deserved from what was a confident, free flowing performance from their young side.

Any chance the Socceroos had of salvaging anything from their opening game were ended with the score at 2-0 in the 55th minute, when the talismatic Tim Cahill was shown a straight red card for an accidentally clumbsy challenge on Bastian Schweinsteiger.

For all their dominance, it was the Australians who started the brightest, almost taking an early lead from a goal mouth scramble. The German’s early nerves soon withered away, as play maker Mezut Ozil, of Werder Bremen, started to pull the strings.

Opportunities had been already wasted by the time Muller’s pull-back was drilled into the net beyond Mark Schwarzer from the edge of the box by Podolski. From that point onward, the first half was all one way traffic.

The Germans had to wait another 20 minutes before Klose scored his 11th World Cup goal, a phenomenal tally for a player who has only three league goals to his name this season. Philip Lahm’s cross from the left was headed in by the Bayern Munich substitute for the tournament’s first headed goal.

The Germans toyed with the Socceroos as they saw out the half. The pace and confident swagger of Ozil and Sami Khedira had their opponents in disarray. Australia have been renowned for their commitment and organisation but it was not on show in Durban.

They started the second half with some belief and had the Euro 2008 runners-up under pressure for a short spell. Passes began to stick and an aerial bombardment provided some nervous moments for Per Mertesacker and Arne Friedrich. The sending off of Cahill though, ended any Aussie ambitions.

The last 35 minutes were comfortable for Germany, and coach Jogi Low was even able to give a rest to Ozil, Podolski and Klose.

The route was completed by Muller, who finished stylishly off the post, and substitute Cacau, who poked home Ozil’s cross two minutes later in the 70th minute, having only been on the pitch a matter of seconds.

Germany have laid down a marker in their first outing. Those who thought they were a fading force without Michael Ballack were forced to think again and reconsider their World Cup prospects.

Australia, meanwhile, will need to regroup quickly if they are to take Group D to the final day. Ghana are up next and defeat is not an option.