Serbs stun Germany, US rallies
Source: Agencies |
June 19, 2010, Saturday
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GERMANY'S status as an early World Cup favorite slumped yesterday as it lost to Serbia, missing a penalty that could have saved it and joining a retreat of Europe's big soccer powers.
The Germans' shock 0-1 defeat, which revives Serbia's chances of qualifying for the second round, followed the humiliation of France by Mexico on Thursday.
The results follow a pattern in which fancied European sides, including pre-tournament favorite Spain, have failed while Latin America, led by Diego Maradona's Argentina, are on the charge.
No European side has won a World Cup outside their continent.
Liverpool-bound Milan Jovanovic grabbed the winner in the 38th minute with Germany in disarray moments after striker Miroslav Klose was sent off for a foul that landed him with a second yellow card.
Germany should have equalized in the 61st when Nemanja Vidic needlessly handled in the area but goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic dived to his left to save Lukas Podolski's spot kick.
The result takes the shine off a young German side that came into the match high on confidence after hammering Australia 4-0 in its opener and gives World Cup newcomer Serbia a chance to reach the second round after it lost 0-1 to Ghana.
Germany still leads Group D with three points from two games.
"I believed my players could do this," said Serbia coach Radomir Antic. "If this is the return of the fighters I don't know but we have to remain positive about ourselves.
"We've a great opportunity where we depend only on ourselves in the next match. This is a very important win for our people."
Until Klose's dismissal the Germans had been in control of the match, playing with attacking flair, fast breaks and fluid movement off the ball that left Serbia on the back foot.
"We had eight yellow cards and (a second) yellow (for Klose), I think this was not necessary," said disappointed Germany coach Joachim Loew.
"There were a couple of tackles where I felt the yellow cards were justified but there were many... given for tackles that weren't malicious at all and could have been avoided."
In Johannesburg, the United States made a dramatic comeback from two goals down at halftime to draw 2-2 with Slovenia and rescue its World Cup chances.
Slovenia took a surprise 2-0 lead by halftime, outplaying the Americans and scoring with goals from Valter Birsa in the 13th minute and Zlatan Ljubijankic in the 42nd.
But Landon Donovan scored a brilliant individual goal three minutes after the break and as the Americans poured forwards, Michael Bradley, son of coach Bob Bradley, grabbed an equalizer eight minutes from time.
The United States got the ball in the net five minutes from the end through Maurice Edu but the referee spotted an infringement.
Slovenia leads Group C with four points with the United States on two.
The Germans' shock 0-1 defeat, which revives Serbia's chances of qualifying for the second round, followed the humiliation of France by Mexico on Thursday.
The results follow a pattern in which fancied European sides, including pre-tournament favorite Spain, have failed while Latin America, led by Diego Maradona's Argentina, are on the charge.
No European side has won a World Cup outside their continent.
Liverpool-bound Milan Jovanovic grabbed the winner in the 38th minute with Germany in disarray moments after striker Miroslav Klose was sent off for a foul that landed him with a second yellow card.
Germany should have equalized in the 61st when Nemanja Vidic needlessly handled in the area but goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic dived to his left to save Lukas Podolski's spot kick.
The result takes the shine off a young German side that came into the match high on confidence after hammering Australia 4-0 in its opener and gives World Cup newcomer Serbia a chance to reach the second round after it lost 0-1 to Ghana.
Germany still leads Group D with three points from two games.
"I believed my players could do this," said Serbia coach Radomir Antic. "If this is the return of the fighters I don't know but we have to remain positive about ourselves.
"We've a great opportunity where we depend only on ourselves in the next match. This is a very important win for our people."
Until Klose's dismissal the Germans had been in control of the match, playing with attacking flair, fast breaks and fluid movement off the ball that left Serbia on the back foot.
"We had eight yellow cards and (a second) yellow (for Klose), I think this was not necessary," said disappointed Germany coach Joachim Loew.
"There were a couple of tackles where I felt the yellow cards were justified but there were many... given for tackles that weren't malicious at all and could have been avoided."
In Johannesburg, the United States made a dramatic comeback from two goals down at halftime to draw 2-2 with Slovenia and rescue its World Cup chances.
Slovenia took a surprise 2-0 lead by halftime, outplaying the Americans and scoring with goals from Valter Birsa in the 13th minute and Zlatan Ljubijankic in the 42nd.
But Landon Donovan scored a brilliant individual goal three minutes after the break and as the Americans poured forwards, Michael Bradley, son of coach Bob Bradley, grabbed an equalizer eight minutes from time.
The United States got the ball in the net five minutes from the end through Maurice Edu but the referee spotted an infringement.
Slovenia leads Group C with four points with the United States on two.
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