His decision making was spot on for the goal. Agree that the Serbs appeared to retreat and Krasic was playing as a second right back. Also agree that it was the wrong thing to do and nearly backfired on them.

However, when the Serbs did try to play I thought they had good speed & touch and if they decide to go after Australia there will be problems at the back.

So what's your opinion of Joachim Loew then?

"masterminded by Pim Verbeek"

You give him far too much credit.

How can you say in one sentence that Serbia played very well, and then go on to say that if the spot kick had gone in, that Germany , with 10 men, would have gone on to win it!!??

I usually think people are a bit harsh on you here, but seriously.......

I don't know what Rule book you're reading but it's only a straight red if he prevents a goal being scored which he didn't thus it's just a yellow.

Correct !

So the bloke in the white shirt behind him was not in a goal scoring position??

one good aspect of both serbia's games is that its become apparent that their giant striker is absolutely useless.

Granted, good cross for the goal, but aside from that cross, I can only recall him putting in 1, possibly 2 more all game.

It's not about wether the ball would have gone to a player and he would have scored if Vidic hadn't handballed it. The rules don't deal with what Ifs. It is only a straight red of the ball was going in the net if not for vidic touching it which it wasn't so it's not a red card.

Quote from Daily Telegraph (UK) report;

"Milso Krasic, who had been outstanding on the right-wing, outpaced Holger Badstuber and delivered a looping cross which was headed down by Zigic and into the path of Jovanovic."

Direct from the Fifa rules:

denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goalscoring opportunity
by deliberately handling the ball (this does not apply to a goalkeeper within
his own penalty area)

I suppose is it open to interpretation, but I would think the word "opportunity" says it all.

In that case if it's when denying a goalscoring opportunity no referee follows the rulebook. When I did refereeing which was the FIFA accredited course we were taught r was only a straight red of it stops the ball going directly in the net.

Moore would keep up with him!

Our giant striker isn't that great either

Well if it came from the Daily Telegraph..... fffttt...... Funny.

Podolski missed what, about 7 or 8 chances. You'd think any one of us could have scored in some of those chances. These referees seem to be trigger happy (especially favouring Euro teams).

By far the worst result possible for our chances of progressing.

Not much has changed really. We still need to win both games. All this has done is give the Serbs a bit more confidence. But it also means that Germany have to come to play against Ghana.

This option just might be our ticket to the final 16.

At least we know if we can only manage a draw against Ghana, there are options.

sidenote: i'd just like to say that i think fourfourtwo is doing a good job with the headlines in terms of taking criticism. a lot of times people are a bit over-aggressive about telling you guys "OMFG THE HEADLINES WRONG LOL", but i think you guys do a good job of taking the criticism and adjusting the articles as needed (and quickly too). so yeah, good job.

Yeah... fortunately for us, football doesn't work like that.

Here we freakin go! The odds on Oz went down from 900-1 to 600-1 overnight. I am proud to have taken some of those 900-1 odds. I recommend you try some of the 600-1 (although only within your pocket money limits if you are not insane). Then on the betting exchanges (if legal in your country as they are in teh UK) you can sell some back at about 200-1 or 100-1 after we beat Ghana and you will get some free bets on the Socceroos. Nice. ATM I stand to win 80K GBP if we win the WC althoug I dont see that happening!

I've just seen an interview with Lucas.He said the Socceroos are driven by fear of failure.If that's true we are well and truly stuffed.You can't play to your best if you are paralysed by fear.I thought they had sports psycologists helping them.Another clanger from Lucash which shows he shouldn't be captain.His form on the pitch reflects his defeatist attitude.FFS where's an inspirational leader when we need one.

Its the risk selecting Klose and Podolsky who have sweet FA for their clubs all year..

Krasic was good.

I though the worst player on the park was Zigic. Even if it was his knockdown that lead to the goal,he actually touched the ball twice (the other touch was the header from point blank that went over when he out-jumped Lahm (LOL). Makes Kennedy look like a midfield maestro..

Agree, but we have seen how refs. can alter games significantly.
The USA third goal was disallowed on a whim ( I didn't see anything other than a lot of shirt pulling by both teams ) The ref in the Germany v Serbia game was giving out cards like invites to his birthday, and Vidic should have got a straight red, if the ref was consistant. Also the keeper moved before Podolski had his weak penalty saved.

Now if the ref favours Australia we'll win without breaking sweat.
So it really is a lottery. I just hope that we shoot from anywhere. Ghana's keeper is sus and Serbia's keeper doesn't look special and he's short!

redcup wrote: but we have seen how refs. can alter games significantly.
The USA third goal was disallowed on a whim ( I didn't see anything other than a lot of shirt pulling by both teams ) The ref in the Germany v Serbia game was giving out cards like invites to his birthday, and Vidic should have got a straight red, if the ref was consistant. Also the keeper moved before Podolski had his weak penalty saved.
Now if the ref favours Australia we'll win without breaking sweat".

Unfortunately the ref will not favour Australia, we all know that FIFA prefer African nations to progress :)

I'm wondering when FIFA are going to work out that the playing public don't want to see games with 10 men. It boring and irritating to see good players suspended for no good reason. How does that add to the spectacle?

A keeper can move as much as he likes as long as he does not come off the goal line.