Match by Match Reports
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Germany as always were expected to do well in the tournament while Ghana, beaten finalists in the African Cup of Nations earlier this year were on previous form one the stronger African teams. Serbia and Australia completed this group and proved themselves capable of springing a few surprises.
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Germany
Australia
Leading 2-0 at half-time, the Germans never looked uncomfortable against an Australian team that could manage just a handful of half-chances. When the Socceroos' key player, Tim Cahill, was sent off for a clumsy but hardly malevolent challenge on Bastian Schweinsteiger on 55 minutes, the match effectively ended as a contest.
Serbia
Ghana
Ghana recorded the first win by an African side in the tournament having dominated a cautious Serbian team for much of the game. Serbia were reduced to ten men when Lukovic was sent off for a second bookable offence with 15 minutes left. As Ghana pressed their advantage, Kuzmanovic inexplicably conceded a penalty with just five minutes left. His histrionic protests were probably designed to reduce his culpability in the eyes of his team mates as TV replays clearly showed he had punched the ball away from an opponent as both competed for a high cross
Germany
Serbia provided Germany with altogether more obdurate opposition than the Australian side the Germans blew away on Sunday. Over the first 30 minutes Germany played measured, patient football but it all fell apart when Klose was sent off after 36 minutes for a second bookable offence. Within a minute Serbia took the lead after Jovanovic headed home a simple chance.
Down to ten men, Germany pressed for an equaliser but after Podolski's tame penalty was saved by Serbian keeper Vladimir Stojkovic, the heart went out of the team.
Ghana
Australia
Australia took an early lead courtesy of Brett Holman but were pegged back after Kewell was sent off for handling the ball on the goal-line and Asamoah Gyan slotted home the resulting penalty, his second of the competition. With their backs to the wall, the Australian side defended stoutly while the Ghanaians lacked the imagination to press their advantage. Indeed, the Australians could have won the match when, in the second half, Luke Wilkshire was through on goal but failed to beat the Black Stars' goalkeeper Richard Kingston.
Ghana
Germany
A superbly struck goal by Mesut Özil after an hour's play was enough for Germany to finish top of Group D and set up a meeting with England in the next round. Both teams had chances in a game that flowed from one end to the other often at breakneck speed. Australia's unlikely win over Serbia allowed Ghana to go forward as runners-up.
Australia
Serbia
In a rousing second half performance, Australia scored twice in four minutes in an entertaining match. Serbia struck back with six minutes left and almost equalised when Pantelic smashed a cross from the right wide of the target in the dying seconds. Had the effort gone in, Serbia would have gone through to the next round but in the end, both teams were eliminated.
Match by Match Reports
Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D | Group E | Group F | Group G | Group H | Knock Out Stages