Australia struggle for positives

   Australia coach Pim Verbeek struggled to find any positives from his side's 4-0 drubbing at the hands of a totally dominant Germany in their opening FIFA World Cup™ Group D match here Sunday. Verbeek could only look on in horror as the Germans scored through Lukas Podolski (9min), Miroslav Klose (26), Thomas Mueller (67) and Brazil-born striker Cacau (70).

   As numerous other goal-scoring chances were squandered by the Germans, key Australian midfielder Tim Cahill was shown a straight red in the 56th minute for a rash challenge on Bastian Schweinsteiger to further complicate matters.

   "We're very disappointed about the result," said Verbeek. "But you have to be fair, in the first 30-35 minutes they outplayed us, especially in midfield. The way we handled that was definitely not good. And to concede a goal after nine minutes, you know it's going to be a tough game. We wanted to use our pace up front, but we never had the ball. They were better.

   "Germany are one of the candidates to win the World Cup and they showed that tonight. In the second half, we were much better but then we had the red card with 30 minutes to go," said the Dutchman.

"We have six days to find out who's the best starting XI to beat Ghana." Pim Verbeek, Australia coach

   Verbeek said his team faced a challenging turn-around to prepare for their second Group D game against Ghana, 1-0 victors over Serbia on Sunday, on June 19 in Rustenburg. They round off their pool games against the Serbians five days later in Nelspruit. "The reality is now that in the next two games we have to win, a draw is not enough," he said. "That's what we're going to have to do, that's what we're going to do."

   He added: "Our next game is a final. We have to learn from this game. We have six days to recover physically and mentally. We have six days to find out who's the best starting XI to beat Ghana."

Verbeek also did not seek to deflect blame for the crushing defeat, the worst possible way for the Socceroos to kick off their third FIFA World Cup campaign.

   "As coach, you're always responsible. I never blame any of my players. I have no problems saying it's my responsibility," he said, also trying to allay fears that his attack would remain toothless. "They are one of the better teams in the world. It's not embarrassing we can't score. We have to score in the next two games, that's for sure."

Ghana snatch win as Serbia self-destruct

An 85rd-minute Asamoah Gyan penalty snatched Ghana a deserved 1-0 victory over Serbia in their Group D opener at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium. The Black Stars, despite having the better of the play, appeared en route to a goalless draw until the Beli Orlovi hit the self-destruct button late on, with Aleksandar Lukovic earning himself a red card before Zdravko Kuzmanovic’s needless handball presented the Africans with the spot-kick from which they seized the three points.

The game got off to a lively start, with Gyan firing a free-kick narrowly over from the edge of the box before Prince Tagoe shot wide. Ghana continued to press forward. Kwadwo Asamoah’s 18th-minute set-piece found the head of Mensah, who was unable to direct it on target, while Gyan, from six yards out, was just inches from connecting with Boateng’s teasing cross two minutes later when the slightest of touches would have surely broken the deadlock.

Serbia spurned a golden opportunity on 26 minutes. Milijas curled a set-piece into the path of Pantelic, who had cleverly spun and lost his marker to find space inside the penalty area. However, the Ajax forward’s control deserted him and the ball went out for a goal-kick. Soon after, Kolarov curled a firmly-stuck free-kick narrowly wide of the post.

Ghana emerged from the break in determined mood and proceeded to monopolise possession. The opportunities duly began to flow. Eight minutes after the restart, Tagoe curled a delightful ball to the back post, but the unmarked Ayew somehow failed to hit the target with a close-range header. With the hour mark approaching, Gyan stole in front of Vidic to head the ball against the post from five yards, and Tagoe then volleyed wide a difficult chance at the back post.

With 16 minutes remaining, Ghana gained a numerical advantage. Lukovic, who had already been booked, held back Gyan and was consequently given a second yellow card. This, curiously, spurred Serbia into life and when Marko Pantelic’s mishit shot fell inviting into the path of Krasic, the CSKA Moscow winger should have done better then shooting straight at goalkeeper Richard Kingson.

Milovan Rajevac’s side swiftly regained control, though, and got the reward they merited five minutes from time. There appeared no danger when an overhit cross from the left travelled towards Kuzmanovic, but he inexplicably handled it to afford Ghana a glorious chance to clinch victory. And that Gyan did, thumping the ball down the middle and into the back of the net. The scorer then hit the post late on, but that will have done little to dampen his delight on an afternoon when he walked away with the Budweiser Man of the Match Award, Ghana put three points on the board and Africa got its first victory of this FIFA World Cup.

Algeria learning the hard way

Algeria are still learning how to compete at the top level of international football and their Group C clash with England next Friday will be another part of that process, says Algerian coach Rabah Saadane.
The 64-year-old, who is in his fifth spell in charge of the Desert Foxes, admitted his side were very much the underdogs in their group, a fact borne out by their opening 1-0 defeat by Slovenia on Sunday.
"It will be very difficult (to qualify)," said Saadane. "We are the minnows in the group ... we will learn things when we play against England, we will see what we are capable of, what is our level, and this is the lesson for the World Cup for Algeria.

"We did not deserve this result, but that is football." Rabah Saadane, Algeria coach

"It is imperative to recuperate from this match and to prepare for an even more difficult match against the best team in the group. I think that, save injuries and tiredness, we will start with the same team. But the tactics will probably change."
Saadane was disappointed his side had failed to get even a point from a game they would have expected at the very least to draw, though they were not helped by the dismissal of substitute striker Abdelkader Ghezzal 18 minutes from time. Saadane was, however, pleased with the overall display in Algeria's first match at the finals since 1986.
"We did not deserve this result, but that is football," he said. "I congratulate my team, I am very happy with the behaviour of the players in this match. We were well-organised, we knew how to retain the ball, and especially good in the first half and for most of the second period, though fatigue did start to set in.
"I have said on several occasions, and I repeat, that it is a body of work that needs time. We are, as it were, in an apprenticeship."