Germany v Serbia

TEAM NEWS
Germany's Bastian Schweinsteiger missed training on Wednesday with a cold and is rated doubtful.
If he is forced to miss out, coach Joachim Loew may have a tactical reshuffle due to the lack of another holding midfielder in his squad who could directly replace him.
Serbia will bring in Neven Subotic in place of the suspended Alexsandar Lukovic, who was red carded against Ghana.
Wolves' midfielder Nenad Milijas could be replaced in central midfield by Zdravko Kuzmanovic and winger Zoran Tosic is also pushing for a starting spot.
Suspended: Lukovic (Serbia) One booking from suspension: Oezil, Cacau (Germany) & Zigic, Kuzmanovic (Serbia).

MATCH PREVIEW

Never write of the Germans. It's a clich�, but a clich� that cannot be ignored after the first round of matches of the World Cup. By the time all 32 teams had completed their opening group games, Germany's four goals in their emphatic win over Australia contributed nearly a sixth of the 25 goals scored.
In a World Cup lacking excitement, Germany's thrilling performance saw the plaudits pour in from around the globe. One of coach Joachim Loew's biggest tasks will be to keep focus and temper expectation amongst his young squad. Not that he needs to worry - Holger Badstuber, Sami Khedira, Mesut Oezil and Thomas Mueller may boast just 22 caps between them, but possess such level heads they appear to be a coach's dream.
When you play well you are everyone's darling, but if we lose to Serbia they will tear us apart, so we need to keep our feet on the ground," said 20-year-old Muller, who was lauded this week by his namesake, the legendary Der Bomber, Gerd.
Much-fancied Serbia got off to the worst possible start and contributed little in a drab defeat to Ghana. Heads may be down but they have to rouse themselves as defeat could knock them out of the competition if Ghana avoid defeat to Australia on Saturday. Radomir Antic may ring the changes as his side looked sluggish in midfield against the vibrant and young Ghanaians. They are going to have to significantly up their game in Port Elizabeth otherwise their World Cup hopes will be cast adrift.

MATCH STATS

Head-to-head
- Taking into account games played by West Germany, plus those by the Yugoslavia or Serbia and Montenegro this is the seventh time they have met at the World Cup. As a result, this becomes the joint most-played fixture at the World Cup along with Brazil v Sweden. Germany lead by four wins to one.
- Overall, this is the sides' 28th meeting and Germany lead by 16 wins to seven. The last time Germany lost this fixture was in May 1973.
Germany
- Miroslav Klose is now only four goals behind Ronaldo's all-time record of 15 goals at the World Cup. His goal against Australia was the seventh header he has scored at the World Cup, a record.
- Germany have conceded seven goals in their last three World Cup matches against teams from the Balkans (1-2 v Bulgaria in 1994, 2-2 v Yugoslavia and 0-3 v Croatia in 1998).
Serbia
- Serbia set a World Cup record when Alexsander Lukovic was sent off against Ghana as they have now had a player red-carded in each of their last three World Cup matches.
- Discipline is a real issue as they have now conceded three goals to penalties in their last two World Cup matches.
- Their last victory at a World Cup came when they beat USA 1-0 in 1998.

MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee Alberto Undiano (Spain)
Assistants Fermin Martinez & Juan Carlos Yuste Jimenez (Esp
Fourth official Martin Vazquez (Uruguay)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/matches/match_21/default.stm

Germany. Serbia couldn't even bet NZ,

the Serbs will be well up for this
I'm punting the draw
Stankovich is due a piledriver too, maybe as Rod Stewart once serenaded 'tonight's the night'

Klose sent off�Why are Serbia playing for the draw? A point won't do them any favours.

thats the yuckest avatar yet aj13.