2010 FIFA World Cup Group Stage Preview:Group D: Germany Vs Serbia

Date: 18 June 2010

Venue: Port Elizabeth Stadium, Nelson Mandela Bay

Germany were easily the most eye-catching team in the first round of matches in the World Cup. None of the other contenders came close to dismantling their lower ranked opponents in the manner in which Germany demolished Australia.

Serbia, on the other hand, started poorly. They played Ghana in their first match, and due to a moment of madness from Zdravko Kusmanovic, they lost the game.

Sami Khedira is all too familiar with Kuzmanovic. After all, he plays alongside the big Serb for Stuttgart in Germany. He, Joachim Loew and the entire German team feel that Serbia will indeed prove to be tougher opponents than Australia. The 4-0 scoreline flattered Australia and not Germany. In all honesty, by the time Tim Cahill was sent off, all the damage had been done.

Yet, too much is being read into that German victory. With two walls in the form of Nemaja Vidic and Neven Subotic in the Serb defence, Germany might have to figure out a different way to break down the Serbs.

Qualification

Serbia qualified automatically ahead of France in Group Seven. They conceded just eight goals in ten games. Their results against France were poor, a 1-1 draw at home and 2-1 loss in France. However, their only other loss came against Lithuania, 2-1, away from home. They scored a total of 22 goals, eight of those against Romania.

Germany drew twice and won eight times in their campaign. Both their draws came against Finland. They qualified with one match to spare. Germany scored 26 goals and conceded just five.

Tactics

Germany will employ a 4-5-1 formation.

Mesut Ozil, Thomas Muller and Lukas Podolski will be the trio of attackers playing behind the lone striker Miroslav Klose. Sami Khedira and Bastian Schweinsteiger will add defensive steel to the midfield—Bastian has been passed “fit” to play after catching a cold.

Serbia will play a 4-4-2 with Nikola Zigic and perhaps Marko Pantelic as strikers. The central midfielders will be Kuzmanovic and influential Champions League winner Dejan Stankovic.

It is, however, the Serbian wingers who are expected to give the German defence plenty of headaches. Milos Krasic and Milan Jovanovic can cause things to happen—especially Krasic.

The Serbs, having seen the Germans demolish Australia, will understand that the only way to stop Germany is to stop Mesut Ozil. Ozil orchestrated the 4-0 demolition of the Socceroos. Holger Badstuber doesn’t enjoy attacking and thus, most of Germany’s attacks come down the right wing. Ozil gets most of his supply from Lahm.

The Serbs can try concentrating on the right wing and shutting German attacks on that side of the pitch. This will force Holger Badstuber to attack and I wonder what Badstuber or Loew will do then.

The German defence is altogether vulnerable; thus the Serbs can get Nemanja Vidic and Branislav Ivanovic alongside the strikers and midfielders into the box for set pieces in order to score.

However, Philipp Lahm can just move to the left and play with Lukas Podolski. Arne Friedrich will then have to shift to the right back berth and Badstuber will have to go the centre. Germany will have an extra man in midfield which might prove to be an advantage. A familiar face might be waiting in the Serb defence: Neven Subotic. The defender currently plies his trade at Borussia Dortmund.

Probable Line-Ups:

Germany : Manuel Neuer; Philpp Lahm, Per Mertesacker, Arne Friedrich, Holger Badstuber;  Bastian Schweinsteiger, Sami Khedira; Thomas Muller, Mesut Ozil, Lukas Podolski; Miroslav Klose.

Serbia : Vladimir Stojkovic; Branislav Ivanovic, Nemanja Vidic, Neven Subotic, Aleksandr Kolarov; Milos Krasic,   Dejan Stankovic,   Zdravko Kuzmanovic,   Milan Jovanovic; Nikola  Zigic, Marko Pantelic.

Other Thoughts

Was Germany’s 4-0 demolition of Australia just a fluke? Or are Germany about to demolish their European opponents?

A German demolition doesn’t necessarily mean that the score-line reads 4-0. In the 2006 World Cup, they played very well against Sweden and won by merely two goals.

Germany, following a victory over Poland at Euro 2008, lost their second match to Croatia. Hopefully, they will avoid any such loss this time around. All the players seem to have their feet planted firmly on the ground.

Prediction

Despite their comprehensive display against Australia, there is no reason for the German fans to get carried away. I expect Germany to win this one. However, I don’t expect them to beat the Serbians in the manner in which they beat the Australians. The teams might even play out to a 1-1 draw.

Final Score: Germany 2-1 Serbia