2010 FIFA World Cup Review, Group D: Germany vs Australia

Germany's youngsters showed the world what they can do today. It's not time yet to get carried away, though. Despite a brilliant display, some flaws in the German side were not exposed by the Australians properly.

The Match

Australia started as the better side but Germany quickly took control. They scored twice through Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose in the first half. In the second half, Tim Cahill was dismissed after a challenge on Bastian Schweinstieger. Thomas Muller scored a well-deserved goal following the dismissal and Cacau completed the rout with a wonderful fourth goal.

The Positives

Where do I start? I would like to start from two misfiring players: Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose. Podolski set the pitch on fire with a fantastic opener. Klose then missed two very good chances before finally redeeming himself with...a header. This was Klose's seventh headed goal in a World Cup. Aside from the goal, they both linked up well with the rest of the team. They even linked up well with each other.

Mesut Ozil and Thomas Muller provided plenty of food for thought for the Australians. They both linked up exceptionally well with Philipp Lahm. Ozil played the defence-splitting balls to Muller, who took over from there. Muller's goal was one that displayed the youngster's composure. It was a shame that Ozil couldn't score.

Bastian Schweinsteiger took over Rolfes's job tonight. The only way to get the ball off him was to kick him. Lucas Neill attempted to do so quite a few times. Schweinsteiger luckily escaped unhurt. Ballack's role was taken over by Sami Khedira. Khedira performed brilliantly tonight. Holger Badstuber quietly went about his business.

Marko Marin and Cacau displayed some of their skills late on in the match. Manuel Neuer played a good match tonight. Arne Friedrich did quite well tonight. And finally, Philipp Lahm truly performed like a captain. He denied Australia a goal in the first half and then provided an excellent cross for Miroslav Klose. His link-up play was second to none tonight.

The Negatives

I was slightly disappointed with Per Mertesacker tonight. I would have liked to have seen a bit more from the gentle giant. He almost gave away a penalty with a hand-ball. The hat-full of chances that Germany missed tonight didn't get them into trouble; however, against a better opponent, they have to take their chances. In all seriousness, Klose could have scored four tonight.

I still am not too sure about the defence. Despite today's performance, I think there is room for improvement especially in the centre of defence. Germany also need to do a bit more with their set pieces than they managed to do tonight.

Mesit Ozil and Cacau both received yellow cards for diving and perhaps rightly so. On a night when they were clearly the superior side, they could have done without diving.

Tim Cahill and Lucas Neill

Australia were correctly down to 10 men in the second half. However, the wrong man was sent off. Lucas Neill hit many German players behind the referee's back but was not sent off. Tim Cahill was instead sent off for a comparatively tame challenge.

In Conclusion

Joachim Loew stuck by his guns and started Podolski and Klose. He went with his word making just one change to the team that played against Bosnia: Piotr Trochowski went out and in came Thomas Muller. 

However, this was only the first match. I expect Serbia to provide much stiffer opposition in their next match. Also, if Tim Cahill had not been sent off, the final result might have been slightly different.

For now though, Germany can celebrate. Following an 8-0 thrashing of Saudi Arabia in their 2002 opener and a 4-2 victory over Costa Rica in 2006, Germany have managed to play another successful opener.

Germany are thus top of Group D by virtue of goal difference ahead of Ghana. Serbia lie third and Australia currently occupy the bottom position. The next round of matches of this group will take place on June 18. Germany will take on Serbia while Ghana will battle Australia.