<http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.bf282dd298b3d36b0e02db39671b9eb6.b71&show_article=1>
 
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.bf282dd298b3d36b0e02db39671b9eb6.b71&show_article=1

 

Serbia stunned Germany 1-0 here on Friday in a pulsating World Cup tie marked 
by a cluster of yellow cards, Miroslav Klose's sending off and Germany's Lukas 
Podolski missing a second-half penalty. 

Milan Jovanovic's first half goal gave Serbia victory to throw Group D wide 
open with Radomir Antic's side joining Germany and Ghana - who play pointless 
Australia on Saturday - with three points. 

Germany coach Joachim Loew reflected: "We had a lot of problems, the double 
yellow card for Klose, they got the first goal, then we failed to score from 
the penalty spot - all in all it was difficult to come to terms with all this. 

"We're devastated of course but I'm still confident we will go through to the 
last 16. we have our fate in our own hands still and a good goal difference." 

His Serbian counterpart Radomir Antic said the shock win could give Serbia back 
their belief after an opening loss to Ghana. 

"We too can decide our own fate now. 

"This is a victory for our people who for sure will know how to celebrate it! 

"Klose's red card was obviously a big handicap for Germany, but we were very 
positive and energetic after me and my players were under a great deal of 
pressure from the defeat in our opening game." 

Germany striker Klose picked up the first booking of the game and then his 
fatal second, from Spanish referee Alberto Undiano, in the 37th minute for a 
tackle on Serbia captain Dejan Stankevic. 

Klose, who is appearing in his third finals, said that the second booking was 
an over reaction by the referee. 

"I would have liked to help the team," said Klose, who belied his poor form 
last season by scoring in the opening win over Australia. 

"I tried to play the ball and it was no foul. The referee should have given me 
a ticking off instead of showing me the yellow. The team tried everything in 
the second-half, they played well and fought hard." 

Less than a minute after he had left the pitch Serbia went ahead after a fine 
three-man move. 

Milos Krasic sent a high ball in from the right post for Nikola Zigic, the 
tallest player at 2m 2cm high in the World Cup, to head down for Jovanovic to 
flick in past keeper Manuel Neuer. 

The Standard Liege midfielder celebrated by jumping into the arms of a small 
band of ecstatic Serbian supporters in the stands. 

A goal and a man down Germany had a mountain to climb to get back into the 
match but they almost grabbed a first half stoppage time equaliser when Sami 
Khedira's shot hit the crossbar. 

Before he was sent packing Klose thought he had come up with his 12th World Cup 
goal on the half hour but the linesman's flag had already been raised for 
offside. 

Trigger-happy Undiano dished out two bookings in the space of barely a minute 
to Serbian duo Branislav Ivanovic and Aleksandar Kolarov. 

It was two cards apiece on 21 minutes as Khedira caught Undiano's attention for 
felling Milos Krasic, the latter a menacing threat to Germany down the right 
wing. 

Germany came out for the second half full of intent and Serbia keeper Vladimir 
Stojkovic was kept busy as the three time champions peppered his goal. 

Undiano must have thought it was Christmas as he handed out yet another card to 
Serbia's Neven Subotic. 

The game's eighth booking for a handball by Vidic in the box, led to Germany 
being awarded a penalty on the hour. 

Podolski stepped up but his spot kick into the left hand corner lacked 
inspiration and Wigan's Stojkovic comfortably saved. 

"I didn't strike the penalty so badly, normally I am more accurate," said 
Podolski. 

"But I have to hold my hand up to the miss. The defeat is quite bitter of 
course. We could have done with a win which would have taken us a step closer 
to the last sixteen." 

 

 

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