Germany v Serbia: match preview

Group D

Germany v Serbia
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Kick-off: Fri June 18, 12.30pm BST
TV: BBC1 12pm, BBC1 HD 12pm

Victory would maintain Germany’s remarkable record of having reached at least the last 16 in every World Cup since 1954. It will also tell us much more about their chances in this tournament folLöwing the demolition on Sunday of a very limited Australian team.

With Ghana favourites to beat the ‘Socceroos’ in the other match in Group D, the possibility of elimination looms for Serbia.

Although Cacau is pressuring the place of Miroslav Klose, Germany are expected to be unchanged from the team that beat Australia while Neven Subotic, who plays in the German league for Borussia Dortmund, is likely to replace the suspended Alex Lukovic for Serbia.



Touchline duel

Joachim Löw v Radomir Antic: Having been in the shadow of Jurgen Klinsmann during the 2007 tournament, Löw has succeeded in stamping his own imprint on this young Germany team.

Antic is under considerable scrutiny in Serbia since the disappointment of Sunday’s 1-0 defeat against Ghana.

He certainly does not lack experience in dealing with pressure, however, after previously managing Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid.

Talking tactics

Serbia must get something out of the game to stand any realistic chance of qualification but, after the way Germany tore Australia to shreds, they will be mindful of adopting an overly adventurous game-plan.

The key will be to limit the supply to Thomas Muller and Lukasz Podolski from playmaker Mehut Özil .

Key Clash

Mehut Özil v Dejan Stankovic: After his master-class against Australia, Mehut Özil will clearly be a marked man. His skill lies in his ability to drift into dangerous areas between the defence and midfield as well as the vision to regularly pick out hurtful passes.

Dejan Stankovic has the considerable experience of being part of five Serie A-winning teams at Inter Milan and must use all of his guile to limit Özil ’s influence.

What they say

Joachim Löw: Time and time again we have shown we have a fantastic capacity to get it right in major tournaments. A positive history can help psychologically but it must not be a crutch. We have to deliver in the here and now.

Radomir Antic: The ball is our obsession; we are a team who likes to attack. I will never go into a game in a negative frame of mind. I think we have a good balance between defence and attack and our organisation at set-pieces is one of the best in Europe.

Teams

Germany (4-2-3-1): 1 Neuer; 3 Friedrich, 17 Mertesacker, 14 Badstuber, 16 Lahm; 6 Khedira, 7 Schweinsteiger; 13 Muller, 8 Özil Podolski; 11 Klose
Subs: 12 Wiese, 22 Butt, 2 Jansen, 4 Aogo, 5 Tasci, 20 Boateng, 15 Trochowski, 19 Kroos, 21 Marin, 9 Keisling, 19 Cacau, 23 Gomez
Serbia (4-4-2): 1 Stojkovic; 6 Ivanovic, 20 Subotic, 5 Vidic, 3 Kolarov; 17 Krasic, 11, Milijas, 10 Stankovic, 14 Jovanovic; 9 Pantelic, 15 Zigic
Subs: 12 Isailovic, 23 Duricic, 2 Rakavina, 16 Obradovic, 5 Kacar, 18 Ninkovic, 19 Petrovic, 22 Kuzmanovic, 8 Lazovic, 15 Zigic, 21 Mrda
Referee: Roberto Rosetti (Italy)

Previous meetings

Played 1: Germany 1, Draws 0, Serbia 0

2008: (Gelsenkirchen, friendly): Germany 2 Serbia 1

Fact: Miroslav Klose has 11 goals in World Cup finals and needs just four to equal Ronaldo’s all-time record of 15.

Prediction: Germany’s toughest game of the group, but still a stroll.