Group D Liveblog: Serbia vs Australia, Germany vs Ghana

I agree that mental resolve was the reason why Serbia did not succeed. But, that blame has to go squarely onto the coach. It is his job to unify and motivate the team. On the other hand, the amount of mental resolve needed by a team in a poorer market i.e. any former eastern block country is 10x required by western teams simply because FIFA wants western teams to win more often in order to sell more merchandise and make more money on advertisement. Read Tim Donaghy's analysis of the NBA finals to see how subtle instructions to the refs does play a big factor in how games turn out.

Posted from  United States

Pete, come on…

Get off this “unfair playing field” theme. There is no conspiracy against eastern teams.

I just posted over on the other thread about the 1990 game when Yugo lost to Argentina in the quarterfinals on penalty kicks.

We had a hugely talented side at that time. That year or maybe the next Zvezda won the Euro and world club championship.

Argentina were the defending world champs in '90. They had the unstoppable Maradonna, a tiny little guy, but with one of the biggest hearts you will ever see.

The Serbs were just as strong and battled to a draw in regulation and overtime. It went to penalty kicks. I believe it was Prosinecki that blasted his shot way over the bar. One of stupidest plays I have ever seen.

That was the ball game and our world cup. The Albiceleste went on to beat the dagos (on home soil) in the semis, but then lost to a very strong and disciplined German side in the finals.

That could have and should have been us in the finals. We had the size and legs to stay with Germany and who knows what might have happened.

But all gone because of one stupid mental lapse on a penalty kick.

This is always the story for us. I agree with you that the coach is a big part of the equation when it comes to getting the players focused and disciplined. This coach did not do that.

Look at what Rajevac has done with Ghana. They did not play one poor game. The could have easily drawn the Germans, or even won. They had as many good chances as the krauts.

Penalty kicks are another perfect example on how lame soccer rules are. All it does is encourage weaker teams to camp back on defense and pray for a perfect long ball or hope for a tie. Every other sport lets the players play until a goal is scored when in the playoffs.

It's almost as stupid as the offsides rule, which again only helps weaker teams compensate for lack of talent. Serbia had 7 offsides. No professional team is that stupid to constantly sit offsides. When all of the teams in the NHL started trapping, the fans stopped watching the game, the players went on strike. The NHL lost millions of dollars and finally changed the rules to get rid of the center line two line pass. Now you can see top talent like Ovechkin and Crosby skate circles around the no talent goons because they don't have to worry about being hooked or grabbed at center ice to get called offsides.

Australia committed 25 fouls, yet only received 3 yellow cards and no red cards. Were the fouls called just to give the weaker players more rest? The calls did nothing to stop the chippy play from Australia. Serbia only committed 10 fouls and received 2 yellows. Serbia can learn a lot from the Germans. Germany knows that no one really likes them, so they don't give a rats ass what the ref says. They use their size and strength to simply plow through the competition. Do you think Klose cried when he was ejected on two yellows and suspended one game. No, because he knows his team has enough talent and skill to win without him. I want to enjoy soccer for what it is, but watching the world cup is like going to the dentist and getting a root canal.

Oh yeah, and Maradona is douche bag cocaine addict who should have been banned from the sport for his “hand of god”. In golf, the players ref themselves, if they ground the club in sand or behind red stakes, but no one see's it, the honorable thing to do is call yourself on the foul. The way I see it, any contact with the arm should be a hand ball, no referee interpretation, and the players should be honorable enough to call himself on a foul. Instead Soccer media glorifies cheaters as being cleaver and someone to admire.

Posted from  United States

Pete I agree wholeheartedly about the 2-line pass in hockey. That was unfair to better skaters, for sure.

Yes, some rules or the way they are interpreted do penalize the more talented players. I agree totally that soccer officiating is far below the level of hockey. By far this is the worst sport for ridiculous rules and inconsistent officiating.

I have said this before that I can't stand the culture of diving in soccer. It is disgusting and shameful. I have seen several blatant dives in this cup that were game-changers—and that has made me sick to the point that I stopped caring about this competition.

In hockey you will be sent off if you try to draw an undeserved penalty with a dive. That is how it should be. The players, to their credit, look down on this as unsportsmanlike, which is exactly true.

I think you are probably right that individual refs personal biases do come into play. Perhaps that does work against certain teams…

But now please do not go dissing Diego. His heart is what counts, not personal demons. Sometimes the people with the biggest ability are also the ones with the biggest monkeys on their shoulder…

Judge ye not, lest ye be judged…

Here are two great quotes from our famous Goarnaut :

1.”I give credit to the 'Roos for two great goals…

That blast from about 35 meters was a thing of beauty. So was the Cahill header.”

2.”Stojkovic was soft on both of those goals.”

Of course , get ready for another convoluted and long-winded explanation that only makes sense to Goarnaut himself .

Some more choice quotes from the one and only Goarnaut :

1. “Overall they (Serbia) outclassed the German side and Germans were lucky to finish down by only one goal.”

2. “Serbia was lucky to hang on for the win (against Germany)”

Crayon Eater, taking quotes out of context only shows what a moron you are.

There is nothing contradictory about saying that Holman's 40 yard blast was a good shot, but that it could have—and should have been defended.

As for my comment from the German blog, the context of the discussion is very important. Namely the German fans there were crying how Serbia did not deserve the win and only won because of the referee.

That is not accurate. Serbia did deserve the win, barely. That is what I have always said. The Serbs could have blown the game though, and that is true.

Anyway, as I write this Germany is in the semis, with strong—and surprising—wins over Argentina and England.

This team is playing with a lot of confidence and that is why they are where they are. You know what? That could be us right now. With a win over Australia, Serbia goes through and maybe builds confidence with each outing like a good team is supposed to do.

But no way. This bunch of undisciplined clowns puts in one half decent performance and calls it a tournament.

So you can sit there all you want nitpicking about my comments. With fans like you no wonder our team stinks

Hey Goarnaut , all your name calling , of the team and other people on this forum , just serves to show that you have no valid arguments to give and that you are a very immature person .

You mention the context of the quotes . I understand , so on the German forum you felt the need to come up with any statement you could to defeat their arguments and then when you come back here to the Serbian forum you have to come up with different statements in order to counter the arguments here .

I am going to repeat those quotes since you still don't seem to have any explanation for them .

1. “Overall they (Serbia) outclassed the German side and Germans were lucky to finish down by only one goal.”

2. “…we didn't beat Germany. Germany beat itself…”

1.”I give credit to the 'Roos for two great goals…

That blast from about 35 meters was a thing of beauty. So was the Cahill header.”

2.”Stojkovic was soft on both of those goals.”

Football is a game if centimetres and yes, a good bounce at times and some luck. Serbia played magnificant football, beating mighty Germany in a dazzling display. Tough luck on Ghana and Oz and we were out. The Cahill handball was a shame, but we had our chances and played magnificently. Vidic said it was their best game since beating Romania. And it was. For such a small country to play like this on the world stage made me so proud to be a Serb! To hear “Boze Pravde” play for the entire world was riviting. Bring on Euro 2012 with Coach Antic leading the team!!! Proud to be a Serb!!!

Posted from  Canada

Mark, Bravo! I have never been more proud to be a Serb than when i watched our boys playing on the world stage! They gave us so much joy when they trounced mighty Germany. We had our chances. Who can forget Milos Krasic tearing up the German wings? And then again against the Aussies. What a player!

Finally Coach Antic was a real gentleman, gracious in victory and defeat. A true Serb role model. Proud to be a Serb!!!

Posted from  Canada

MANFRED , you are finished very shortly . Next 90 minutes and you are done .

ADIOS , Manfred . Your over-hyped team is out , pedazo de mierda .

Spain won!!! The Spanish clearly took a look at Serbia's playbook against Germany and it worked!!! Serbia totally dismantled the German wings in their superb victory in qualifying and the Spanish did the same. Bravo Spain!!!

Posted from  Canada

Yes they are indeed kaput! Finished and done. The Spanish outclassed the germans complely. Just like the Serbs did. The Spanish clearly watched our game very closely and analyzed how Serbia dismantled the German wings. That analysis worked today! Serbia can take some credit for the Spanish victory by showing the Spanish how to do it!!!

Posted from  Canada

Serbia showed Spain how to do it against Germany!! Superb play by the Serbs showed the Germans to be beatable and the Spanish saw that. Methodical Spain controlled the game from start to finish and earned a well deserved win.

Serbia's amazing play against the vaunted Germans showed the Spanish hwo to do it. Serb roadmap to Spanish victory!! Bravo Espana!!!! Proud to be a Serb!!!

Posted from  Canada

Me thinks poor Manfred and his buddy Goarnaut are crying in their bratwurst somewhere!!!

But as I have always said, we Serbs are gracious in victiory and defeat – unlike them. So I will not taunt them. Germany had a solid run indeed.

Go Serbia Go!!! So proud to be a Serb today and for Serb football!!!

Posted from  Canada

Apology accepted. Rare for these sites indeed. As I have always said, we should always strive to be gracious in victory and defeat.

Gremany had an amazing run and they played well.

Posted from  Canada

lol Serbia only scored 1 point they suck in the world cup they played 4 games and got 1 goal thats sad.

They played like a great team and got 3 points. Not one point. Agreed it was very sad that such a talented team failed to advance. But the nucleus of a great team is there and they are led by a super coach, Radomir Antic. A dumb handball error against Ghana cost us the qualifying spot. And like Spain against the Swiss, we dominated the Aussie's but could not equalize.

But our win against mighty Germany was riviting and showed the deep talent the Serbs had. Krasic tore up the German wings to pieces!!! Amazing for Serbia to be part of such an elite undertaking on the world stage!!!

Posted from  Canada

Serbia's team insipred all Serbs everywhere. What an accomplishment for a small country to be part of such an elite endeavour watched by the entire world!!! And to beat giant Germany in a well deserved win? Well words can't describe that thrill!!!

I've replayed that game three times so far!!! Amazing goal by new Liverpool man Jovanovic. Brilliant!!! Bring on Euro 2012!!!

Posted from  Canada

You can't even count . We played 3 games not 4 and we got 3 points not 1 . We ranked ahead of Italy and France . Nice TRY.

And 2 goals not 1 . Prerequisite for posting to this forum is definitely ability to count .

Excellent point. Yes Serbia ranked above France and Italy. Amazing accomplishment indeed! We didn't get the breaks and Ghana did. They ended up getting to the final 8, which could easily have been Serbia.

Posted from  Canada

This guy Marko Arnautovic wants to play for Serbia . He is currently playing for Austria so has to ask FIFA .Check him out on youtube . I think we need a guy like this .