Preview: Australia vs. Serbia

THE BIG PICTURE

Two teams, one story: an extremely disappointing show in the opener, a much improved outing in the second to keep hopes alive. The details do, however, vary slightly. Australia were played off the pitch by the very un-German Germans in the opener even before Tim Cahill received some very harsh marching orders. A few days later they righted the ship and had the lead against before Harry Kewell’s arm stopped a Ghana equalizer on the goal line and was rightly sent off, the penalty converted but held out – or perhaps simply played better with the disadvantage – from there.

Serbia were sliced apart in the opener by Ghana and turned a 180 against Germany, albeit with the help of another harsh red to Miroslav Klose, but looked defensively solid with Neven Subotic coming in for the suspended Aleksandr Lukovic – even if their defenders can’t stop playing wide receiver in the box.

So with everything on line, which team will have turned it around for good? One or the other? Both? And will Australia make it through a game with ten men? Stay tuned…

WHAT’S AT STAKE

The World Cup, in summation.

The breakdown:

Serbia

3 points from 2 matches, 0 goal differential
Wins the group with:
* A win over Australia combined with a Germany-Ghana draw.
* A win over Australia combined with a Germany win that leaves Serbia ahead of Germany on goal difference / tie-breakers.

Qualifies with above scenario plus:
* A win over Australia (regardless of other result)
* A draw with Australia, combined with a Germany win that leaves Serbia ahead of Ghana on goal difference / tie-breakers.
* A draw with Australia, combined with a Ghana win.

Australia

1 point from 2 matches, -4 goal differential
Australia cannot win the group

Qualify with the following scenario:
* A win over Serbia, combined with a Ghana win over Germany.
* A win over Serbia, combined with a Germany win over Ghana that leaves Australia ahead of Ghana on goal difference / tie-breakers.
* A win over Serbia by 8 goals, combined with a Germany-Ghana draw (Australia beats Germany on goal difference)