Serbia - World Cup 2010 (by Cup of Bovril)

Serbia’s World Cup hopes and dreams came to an unexpected end in Nelspruit against Australia.


After a controlled yet for too long, barren performance Serbia were unable to find the goal required that would have given them a 2-2 draw and passage into the second round.

The mission started very clearly for the White Eagles, win and qualification was assured.

The first half was one of missed opportunities for the Serbs.

After 11 minutes Ninkovic broke through the middle of the park at pace to play a clever ball beyond the Aussie defence for the onrushing Krasic. It was similar to the way in which Germany had been able to breach this Australian defence in the first group game, except Krasic’s touch was heavy as he rounded Schwarzer and instead of rolling the ball into the empty net it blazed high and wide of the goal mouth.

Again the next chance was created by the energetic Serbs, this time a smart interchange between Krasic and Kuzmanovic on the right touch line led to a dinked cross that found Branislav Ivanovic, who had surged forward un-opposed to control the ball on his chest and thump a half volley that was repelled by the right arm of Schwarzer.

The team in red kept control of the ball and the chances kept arising in the opening period but they could not be put away. Next up was Zigic unable to direct a header towards the goal.

This was followed by Jovanovic moving inside from the left to slide a ball past the Australian defence which was met by Krasic to knock into the goal, only to see the assistant referee to flag for an offside.

Half time dually was upon us and the Serbian side retreated to their dressing room with the match under control but they were aware that they had spurned many chances to secure their progress.

On 52 minutes Zigic was to have his final opportunity in the game. Jovanovic again looking dangerous on the left dragged the ball back for Zigic, who controlled with his chest only to send the ball on the half volley off target.

On the hour mark the news came through of a German goal against Ghana in the other group match. The Aussies quickly made 2 substitutions as did Serbia, who replaced Krasic and Zigic with Tosic and Pantelic.

The changes worked out better for Australia who after 4 minutes of madness found themselves 2-0 ahead after a header from Tim Cahill was followed by a drive from distance by Brett Holman. It was a situation that had been impossible to imagine at half time after the Serbian domination but their failure to convert any of the chances created had come back to haunt them.

Danko Lazovic was the final roll of the dice, coming on after 76 minutes for Kuzmanovic and it was clear that Radomir Antic and his side were going to throw everything they had at this Australian defence.

Eventually they got a break through, Tosic cut inside from his marker to zing a shot that Schwarzer found too hot to handle and the ball spilled out to the 6 yard line where Pantelic was waiting to slot the ball home, to bring the score line to 2-1 with 6 minutes to play.

2 minutes later it looked like salvation was found for the Serbs. Lazovic played a cross field pass beyond the defence to Pantelic who controlled with his first touch and slotted the ball into the bottom corner with his second. As the Serbian fans celebrated once again on the touchline the assistant referee had his flag raised and the goal was not to count.

The White Eagles were to suffer further in the final minute of the match. After conceding 2 penalties in the group due to handballs in the box, corner was struck into the heart of the box by Jovanovic to bet met by the head of Vidic only for the ball to strike the up stretched arm of Tim Cahill.
As the referee was surrounded by claims for the penalty to be awarded, he simply signalled for a corner. The flight of the ball had been clearly blocked by the arm but was judged to have been accidental and Serbian anger was obvious.

The final opportunity again fell to Pantelic but he was too eager with his run, finding himself in an offside position, but his strike was wayward and the ball sailed high and wide of the far post.

The final whistle followed soon after and the Serbian player’s ambitions ended for this competition.

History was not on Serbia’s side going into their crunch Group D match against Germany in Port Elizabeth. The White Eagles had not defeated the Germans outside of Europe since 1962 in Chile and you had to go back 6 World Cups to 1986 to the last time Germany was defeated in a group match.


After the defeat to Ghana in the opening group game, for Serbia to be in control of their own destiny no more points could be dropped in the next two games.

The White Eagles did not disappoint and they left the field with a historic 1-0 victory that blew qualification from Group D wide open.

Radomir Antic made changes to the starting line-up, one which was forced and two which were tactical.

Nevan Subotic was brought into partner Vidic at the heart of the defence, after Lukovic’s red card in the first game. Out also went Pantelic and Milijas, in a tactical switch that saw Ninkovic and Kuzmanvic, who’s hand ball led to the Ghana goal, come into the starting 11.

Kuzamnovic was a straight swap for Milijas but is a more defensive minded midfielder who is happy to sit in behind Stankovic and is more mobile than Milijas.

The switch of Ninkovic for Pantelic was a very interesting move.
Out went 4-4-2 and in came a 4-2-3-1. Against Ghana, the front pairing of Zigic and Pantelic failed to spark and the 2 wingers who are so important to the success of the Serb side could make no impact. Bringing in Ninkovic, who is a clever player with good passing vision to float behind Zigic, would encourage Jovanovic to move into the box from his position on the left. This was a tactic that worked very well in qualifying with Jovanovic getting 5 goals and being the sides leading scorer.

After 38 minutes we saw this very move come to fruition. Krasic, who had troubled the German full back Badstuder with his pace and trickery, was released down the right leaving his marker behind to float a cross to the far post where it was met by Zigic, who’s knock down was met in the 6 yard box by Jovanovic who swept it into the net.

Jovanovic ‘s run had been not picked up by the Germans with Zigic taking up the attention of 2 of their defenders and he was able to wait for the knock down which he took with one touch on his chest before finishing acrobatically with a neat half volley from his left foot.

The joy of the team was very visible as they ran across the pitch to a section of the ground to celebrate with their supporters. Jovanovic leapt over an advertising hoarding and dually disappeared into a concrete moat just below the delighted White Eagles support.

Prior to goal the first half had been most noted for the number of yellow cards shown by the Spanish referee, Alberto Undiano, six times he felt compelled to brandish yellow in a match that was certainly competitive but without a tackle that stood out as violent.

It was 2 minutes before the goal that the sixth yellow was handed out and it was given to Miroslav Klose who had also received the first after 12 minutes. He had been booked for clipping the heel of Branislav Ivanovic whilst chasing to retrieve the ball and then it was a clumsy tackle from behind on Stankovic inside the Serbian half that led to the second booking and then the red card.

Although reduced to ten men the Germans continued try and find a way back into the game and in the second half Lukas Podolski had numerous opportunities for his side but spurned each one.

A journey that started in September 2008 against the Faroe Islands, was the first step on a road to this day, 13th July 2010 in Pretoria and the start of Group D in the first African World Cup.

The draw had brought Serbia together with Germany, Australia and Ghana in one of the more challenging groups for the World Cup.

Radomir Antic had stated, "my ambitions are much bigger than qualification", and after such an impressive route to South Africa his words seemed well placed but with a close but uninspiring Group D opener, in Pretoria against Ghana, the White Eagles slumped to a 1-0 defeat.

This was a match defined by two moments, both of which involved referee Hector Baldassi.
In the 74th minute Aleksandar Lukovic received his second yellow card of the game and thus ensuring his side would see out the final 16 minutes a player short. Lukovic had just been turned by Asamoah Gyan on the edge of the Serbian half and as the Ghanaian attacker ran away he was tugged back by the Serb defender. It was a foul but a very unlikely one to lead to a red card, as the reaction of Lukovic and his team mates showed.

Then with 7 minutes remaining Zdravko Kuzmanovic had the misfortune of seeing a harmless cross connect with his right hand while climbing to clear the ball and the penalty what would decide the match was given.


Although Serbia had the majority of the possession, it was generally held in unthreatening positions but the best opportunities did come their way.

Pantelic, with a well worked set piece in the first half, would have been one on one with Kingson, the Ghana goalkeepers, but he was unable to control the ball and the chance was gone.

The best chance was created at the start of the second half. A good run down the left by Pantelic saw him flight a cross to the far post where Nikola Zigic awaited unmarked but from 5 yards from goal the ball hit the inside of his shin and deflected harmlessly back across the face of the goal. By the reaction of Zigic, he realised this was a great moment for his side.

The red card of Lukovic did not lead to Serbia retreating to hold out for a point and they began to take greater control of the match and created three more chances to take the lead.

Vidic headed a corner narrowly over the crossbar and Branislav Ivanovic saw an enterprising run forward lead to a thumping drive fly close to the top of the goal but neither forced a save.

Kingson was forced into action on 79 minutes when the lively substitute, Danko Lazovic beat his marker and cut a clever ball into the centre of the Ghana goalmouth where Pantelic swung at fresh air but, after a very quiet performance, Milos Krasic met it with a fierce left footed shot that had to be forced over the crossbar.

The penalty followed shortly after that would see Ghana 1-0 in front. Serbia continued to press forward and Kuzmanovic had a chance to make amends for his error but his drive blazed over Kingson’s goal.