Australia – Serbia

1. <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2010/0612/timcahillpresser20100612_275x155.jpg">

2. <a href="http://blogs.soccernet.com/australia/archives/2010/06/plenty_remains_to_win_and_lose.php" target="_blank">Paddy Higgs says the Aussies have plenty to take from their African adventure.</a>

3. Join us at 1830 GMT to see if Serbia or Australia can claim a place in the second round.

4. Hello everyone and welcome to live text commentary of Australia v Serbia - Group D is very much still in the balance and we should be in for an exciting contest.

5. I've got some team news for you now.

6. Australia: Schwarzer, Wilkshire, Beauchamp, Neill, Carney, Culina, Valeri, Emerton, Cahill, Bresciano, Kennedy

7. Serbia: Stojkovic, Ivanovic, Vidic, Lukovic, Obradovic, Stankovic, Kuzmanovic, Ninkovic, Krasic, Jovanovic, Zigic

8. So big news for Australia is that Tim Cahill returns from his suspension. But they have Craig Moore and Harry Kewell missing for this one - the latter's dismissal against Ghana caused much consternation in the Socceroos camp.

9. The only change for Serbia is Obradovic in for Kolarov.

10. Of course we have a number of different potential scenarios so let me take you through it for these two teams.

11. Serbia are in the stronger position and it is simple for them. A win takes them through whatever happens in the Ghana v Germany match. A draw for them and a win for Ghana would also take them through, while a draw in both matches would see Germany and Ghana through, while Serbia exit on goal difference.

12. I hope that made some sense - now for Australia.

13. Australia MUST win. That is an absolute certainty. And for them to go through, they realistically need Ghana to win. If Germany win, Australia need a five goal swing in their favour against Ghana.

14. Australia Fair blares out of the tannoy and the Socceroos players sing their hearts out.

15. And now "Boze pravde" rings out around the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.

16. That's the Serbian anthem by the way!

17. I will of course keep you updated on how things progress in the other game too.

18. And we're off...

19. 1'

    ESPN Stats & Info: <i>The Socceroos are without a win in their last five games at the World Cup finals (two draws and three defeats).</i>

20. 1'

    Australia keep hold of the ball to begin with, but it's given away to Zigic who, fortunately for the Socceroos, can't get it under control.

21. 2'

    Krasic now down the right showing a good turn of pace and he's into the area but quickly over. He looks for a penalty but he went down far too easily.

22. 2'

    Emerton exchanges passes with a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed Cahill. He looks excited to be back in the starting line-up.

23. 3'

    Ninkovic feeds in Krasic who looks for an optimistic cross-field pass. Doesn't find the target though.

24. 4'

    Culina brings Australia forward and Bresciano does well, playing a one-two with Emerton.

25. 5'

    Krasic into the area now for Serbia and Schwarzer palms it away for a corner from his shot.

26. 5'

    Poor delivery and it's a goal-kick to the Socceroos.

27. 6'

    Just before that Krasic chance, Bresciano swung one in for Kennedy but it was headed out and that's where Serbia broke from.

28. 7'

    Wilkshire and Culina combine down the right and I'm surprised they haven't looked a little more often for the giant Kennedy in the early stages.

29. 8'

    Serbia corner now - Vidic and Ivanovic forward.

30. 8'

    The ball finds its way to Stankovic and he tries an optimistic effort from distance which sails harmlessly over.

31. 9'

    Kennedy comes deep for the ball and releases Cahill down the right. But his cross is cleaned up easily and Serbia come away with the ball.

32. 10'

    Cahill leaps for a flick on and Carney crosses in from the left...

33. 10'

    Turned away by Obradovic, corner for Australia.

34. 11'

    <b>GREAT CHANCE for Krasic!</b>

35. 11'

    The corner was cleared and Krasic sped away on the break - took it around Schwarzer but then fired it over. Very weak defending.

36. 12'

    It was Krasic who originally headed it away and having continued his run Jovanovic played a pinpoint through ball.

37. 13'

    Kuzmanovic penalised for fouling Bresciano in midfield.

38. 14'

    Valeri looks long but it was overhit.

39. 15'

    Ninkovic brought down by Emerton.

40. 16'

    Kuzmanovic gets inside the area and strikes it wide with his right foot. He escaped the clutches of Neill a little too easily.

41. 17'

    ESPN Stats & Info: <i>Serbia's shooting accuracy before this game was 14% - the second lowest after Honduras at the 2010 World Cup.</i>

42. 17'

    Jovanovic with a teasing cross from the left-wing towards Zigic. But handled admirably by Beauchamp.

43. 17'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> <b>Lukovic booked for a late challenge on Wilkshire.</b>

44. 18'

    Free-kick delivered from the right of midfield towards Kennedy but Cahill penalised for a shoulder charge on Vidic.

45. 19'

    Bresciano angles it in towards Kennedy and it's out for a Socceroos throw deep in Serbian territory.

46. 20'

    Lukovic climbs above Cahill and it's a Socceroos corner now.

47. 20'

    Bresciano's corner dealt with by Jovanovic.

48. 21'

    Jovanovic with an inventive through ball towards Kuzmanovic but it's too hard and, pacy as he is, he can't quite reach it.

49. 22'

    <b>GREAT SAVE by Schwarzer!</b>

50. 22'

    Ivanovic was completely free in the box and he struck a fierce shot that was blocked superbly by the Fulham goalkeeper.

51. 23'

    Serbia definitely looking the livelier of the two sides.

52. 24'

    <img src="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2010/0623/soc_g_cahill_stankovic1x_288.jpg"> <br>Tim Cahill and Dejan Stankovic battle.

53. 25'

    Krasic with a searching ball, but all it found was the top of Schwarzer's net. There seems to be an awful lot of space down the right of midfield for Serbia.

54. 26'

    Stankovic tries one from distance. He hits the target, but the target was a large Australian goalkeeper who claims it easily.

55. 28'

    <img src="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2010/0623/soc_g_bresciano_ivanovic1x_288.jpg"> <br>Mark Bresciano and Branislav Ivanovic.

56. 29'

    Offside flag up against Kuzmanovic.

57. 29'

    Australia have really struggled to string more then a couple of passes together since the opening minute. The Kennedy Experiment of knocking it long has been unsuccessful thus far.

58. 30'

    I just counted three, four Socceroos passes.

59. 30'

    Impressive but then it is given away and normal service is resumed.

60. 31'

    Kennedy back to win the ball in midfield.

61. 32'

    Chance for Cahill. Bresciano curled it in from the left wing and Cahill climbed higher than Lukovic. But his header was well wide. At last something for Verbeek's side to shout about - well, maybe whisper about.

62. 33'

    Ivanovic crosses from the right and Zigic was loitering with intent had Neill not been in position to head away.

63. 34'

    <b>What a miss from Zigic.</b>

64. 34'

    Great cross from Ivanovic and for a 6ft 7 in forward, Zigic's headed effort was very poor. Especially as he was unmarked in the box.

65. 35'

    <img src="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2010/0623/soc_g_krasic_valeri1x_288.jpg"> <br>Milos Krasic and Carl Valeri.

66. 36'

    Emerton penalised for failing to keep his hands off Jovanovic.

67. 36'

    Free-kick played short to Stankovic who passed it to Ninkovic but he couldn't manufacture a decent cross. That move had better stay on the training ground in the future.

68. 37'

    Oodles of possession for Serbia.

69. 37'

    Goal for Krasic...no, it's ruled out for offside.

70. 37'

    And he was a good yard off. Schwarzer let his shot in tamely but he will claim he heard the whistle I'm sure.

71. 38'

    Good couple of chances for Australia. Great interchange between Cahill and Carney and on the stretch Cahill diverted the ball towards Kennedy inside the area who has a couple of efforts blocked.

72. 39'

    The resulting corner for Australia is out for a goal-kick. I've certainly seen better deliveries.

73. 40'

    Stat Attack: <i>Harry Kewell was sent off against Ghana, after Tim Cahill was shown a red card against Germany. No team in World Cup history has received a red card in three consecutive games. Many teams have had a man sent off in two straight games, most recently the Czech Republic and Serbia and Montenegro in 2006, and Paraguay in 2002.</i>

74. 41'

    Jovanovic welcomes the ball into the danger zone with a left wing cross but it's cleaned up by Carney.

75. 42'

    Serbia free-kick from the right wing. Dangerous position.

76. 42'

    The delivery searches for Zigic but it's headed away. Now Australia have a free-kick of their own inside the Serbia half.

77. 43'

    Kennedy rises like a salmon but his header is flicked harmlessly wide.

78. 44'

    <img src="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2010/0623/soc_g_schwarzer1x_288.jpg"> <br>Mark Schwarzer makes a save.

79. 45'

    Australia finsihign the half on the attack. Emerton crosses into Kennedy and he heads it into the grateful grasp of Wigan number two Stoijkovic.

80. 45'

    <b>HALF-TIME. Serbia 0-0 Australia.</b>

81. 45'

    A really poor first half from Australia, with Kennedy the only real outlet and even he has been feeding on scraps. Serbia have knocked it around well, with the movement of Krasic and Jovanovic causing plenty of problems.

82. 45'

    First half highlight: Great save from Schwarzer to deny Ivanovic.

83. 45'

    ESPN Stats & Info: <i>The Socceroos have never won - drawn three, lost three - at the World Cup when level after 45 minutes.</i>

84. 45'

    Lucas Neill <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/800704/ce/uk/?cc=5739&ver=global">told Australian fans to believe</a> before the game but there has been little to smile about so far.

85. 45'

    It's still 0-0 between Ghana and Germany which means that those two sides will be going through as things stand.

86. 45'

    Dom at Soccernet HQ has been mesmerised by the first half in this one:<i> Australia have looked pretty dire and it seems like it will only be a matter of time before Serbia make the breakthrough.</i>

87. 45'

    I second that Dom.

88. 45'

    The winner from this group will face England in the second round. They <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=264047&cc=5739&ver=global">beat Slovenia 1-0</a> to progress.

89. 45'

    The second place team will take on Group C winners USA after they scored a <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=264048&cc=5739&ver=global">last-gasp winner against Algeria</a>.

90. 45'

    Australia certainly need to change things if they have any chance of winning. Holman could be an option from the bench.

91. 45'

    <b>We're off for the second half...</b>

92. 45'

    No changes as yet, Australia start it off on the front foot though and have an early free-kick after Cahill is brought down by Vidic.

93. 46'

    Bresciano whips it in from the left and Zigic knocks it away.

94. 47'

    <img src="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2010/0623/soc_g_kennedy1x_288.jpg"> <br>Australia striker Josh Kennedy heads the ball.

95. 48'

    Emerton advances for the Socceroos and the ball is fired in towards, guess who?

96. 48'

    That's right it's Josh Kennedy. Knocked into the arms of Stoijkovic.

97. 48'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> <b>Beauchamp booked for a late challenge on Jovanovic.</b>

98. 49'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"><b>Wilkshire fouls Ninkovic and it's another yellow card.</b>

99. 50'

    <img src="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2010/0623/soc_g_obradovic_emerton1x_288.jpg"> <br>Ivan Obradovic of Serbia tackles Brett Emerton

100. 50'

     Scrappy period of play here.

101. 51'

     Good flick on by Kennedy and Cahill slices his shot wide.

102. 51'

     Michael Hogg on Facebook says: <i>We are playing as if we only need a 1-0 win. It is so frustrating to be supporting a squad with four strikers in it, and only one actually being played. Can see us snatching one via either Cahlill or Bresciano.</i>

103. 52'

     Well said.

104. 52'

     <b>Great chance for Zigic.</b>

105. 53'

     He brings it down just inside the area and after setting himself up smashes it up and over. Undoubtedly should have done better.

106. 54'

     <img src="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2010/0623/soc_g_cahill1x_288.jpg"> <br>Australia striker Tim Cahill heads at goal.

107. 55'

     Long range effort from Culina drifts wide. Was a bit closer than Serbia goalkeeper Stoijkovic thought though.

108. 56'

     Krasic feeds it to Jovanovic who tiptoes his way past Wilshere into the area, but Beauchamp comes across and shows good strength to see him off the ball.

109. 57'

     Stat Attack: <i>Australa have never beaten European opposition at the World Cup. They've lost four and drawn one.</i>

110. 58'

     <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Ninkovic lunges in on Wilshere and his late challenge is rightly punished with a booking.

111. 58'

     Good effort from Bresciano from the free-kick. His low powerful effort is pushed around the post by Stoijkovic.

112. 59'

     Stat Attack: <i>There have been six red cards in the last four World Cup finals matches involving Australia.</i>

113. 60'

     Australia looking a little brighter now. Serbia have taken their foot off the gas in the second half.

114. 61'

     <b>Germany have scored against Ghana - Ozil has made it 1-0. As things stand, Ghana are still going through.</b>

115. 62'

     <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Serbia sub: Tosic on for Krasic</b>

116. 62'

     Lovely turn by Kennedy but Vidic holds his position and gets an important tackle in.

117. 63'

     Ivanovic smashes it clear after Kennedy almost created a shooting opportunity inside the box.

118. 63'

     Bresciano shoots from outside the area and Stoijkovic palms it straight out towards Cahill...

119. 63'

     But it's a great challenge from Ivanovic.

120. 64'

     <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Australia sub: Holman on for Valeri</b>

121. 65'

     <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Australia sub: Chipperfield on for Bresciano</b>

122. 66'

     <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Serbia sub: Pantelic on for Zigic</b>

123. 67'

     Stat Attack: <i>Dejan Stankovic has appeared at the World Cup finals for Yugoslavia (1998), Serbia & Montenegro (2006) and Serbia (2010). No other player has taken the field at the World Cup finals for three different nations. Eleven players have appeared for two nations, most famously Ferenc Puskas (Hungary 1954, Spain 1962).</i>

124. 68'

     <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Tim Cahill heads it in ahead of Vidic. Fantastic header.

125. 68'

     Stankovic shoots over from distance.

126. 69'

     That goal was from absolutely nothing, neither side had created anything for a good while.

127. 70'

     As things stand, Australia need to score three more goals. Or hope Germany score a few more goals. Or hope that Ghana come back to win. It's all still to play for.

128. 71'

     Corner for Serbia after some good work down the right by the sub Tosic.

129. 72'

     ESPN Stats & Info: <i>Cahill scored the most headed goals in the Premier League last season (seven).</i>

130. 73'

     <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL!</b> What a strike from Holman - the man who scored against Ghana has unleashed one from 30 yards, right into the bottom corner.

131. 74'

     Amazing stuff, Serbia have collapsed and they are stunned. A two-shot swing is now needed for Australia to progress.

132. 75'

     Australia were so poor in the first half but they have come out with real fight and deserve their lead really.

133. 75'

     Free-kick for Serbia, they need a big turnaround. Tosic to take.

134. 76'

     Headed away by Emerton and Lukovic tries a speculative effort from distance.

135. 77'

     <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Serbia sub: Lazovic on for kuzmanovic</b>

136. 78'

     Pantelic through down the right, but it's deflected back off him and out for a goal-kick. He has made little impact since he came on.

137. 79'

     Tosic with a lovely turn to open up some space for Stankovic but Australia can break now.

138. 80'

     Wilshire's cross straight into Stoijkovic's hands.

139. 80'

     Holman penalised for a foul on Obradovic.

140. 81'

     <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> <b>Australia sub: Garcia on for Wilshere</b>

141. 82'

     Ball down the line towards Emerton from Culina, but it's overhit.

142. 83'

     <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL.</b> Pantelic is on the mark as Schwarzer spills Tosic's long range shot.

143. 84'

     Poor from Schwarzer and if Serbia get another goal, they will go through on goals scored.

144. 85'

     Pantelic has the ball in the back of the nest but he's offside by a matter of inches. Correct decision.

145. 85'

     Australia still pushing forward but it's certainly over for them.

146. 86'

     <b>Just wide from Kennedy. </b>

147. 86'

     He should have perhaps done better from inside the area but he curled it wide of the left-hand post.

148. 87'

     Lazovic shoots wide.

149. 87'

     <img src="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2010/0623/soc_g_valeri1x_288.jpg"> <br>Carl Valeri of Australia heads the ball clear.

150. 88'

     Well the game has burst into life in the second half, and it's still in the balance. Can Serbia find a goal from somewhere?

151. 89'

     Lazovic crosses in but it's out for a corner. Exciting stuff.

152. 90'

     Headed clear but Serbia stil pushing.

153. 90'

     Shot from Tosic...

154. 90'

     Well over!

155. 91'

     Lazovic's cross and it drops to Tosic who's shot is blocked away by Chipperfield.

156. 92'

     <b>Pantelic has missed a sitter</b>

157. 92'

     He's knocked it over in the clear, but he was offside anyway.

158. 93'

     <b>It's all over...</b>

159. 93'

     <b>FULL-TIME. Australia 2-1 Serbia.</b> A battling second half performance from the Socceroos has given them the win after they were completely outclassed in the first period. Serbia will be left ruing their missed chances - notably Zigic's free header.

160. 93'

     Serbia's fate was in their own hands but they've blown it and despite losing 1-0 to Germany, it is Ghana who will face USA in the second round, while there is the mouthwatering clash between germany and England.

161. 93'

     The report for Australia 2-1 Serbia can be found <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=264054&cc=5739&ver=global">here</a>.

162. 93'

     It's the end of an era for many of these Australian players, while for Serbia it has been a World Cup of diappointment that even the victory against Germany will not temper. More was expected but we have our first and only African side in the second round.

163. 93'

     Thanks for joining us folks and do return for more live action on Thursday. It's Cameroon v Netherlands, Denmark v Japan, Paraguay v New Zealand and Italy v Slovakia.

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