GERMANY TAKES AUSTRALIA TO SCHOOL IN 4-0 WIN
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 14 Jun 2010
Germany lived up to its reputation as a big match team when it virtually took Australia to school in a clinically superior performance en route to an easy 4-0 victiory in Durban that was the most lopsided so far in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The Germans hardly showed any signs of the absence of their pivotal skipper Michael Ballack of Premier League champions Chelsea.
Controlling the tempo of the match and keeping possession for long spells the Germans waited for their opportunities and when the Australian defense broke down, pounced on the Boomers to score.
Here?s a report on the match from FIFA.
Richard Garcia provided an early scare for the three-time world champions in the nervy awkwardness of the opening exchanges, but it proved a false dawn as Germany were a goal to the good inside eight minutes of the teams' Group D curtain-raiser.
Miroslav Klose fired a warning shot after four minutes which was well dealt with by Mark Schwarzer, but Australia?s Fulham-based net-minder could do nothing about what came just four minutes later. A diagonal ball from Mesut Oezil sent Thomas Mueller breaking down the right side of the penalty area and the Bayern Munich starlet crossed low for Lukas Podolsk to drill home with his left foot past Schwarzer, who did well just to get a hand to it.
The Australians were stunned by the early set-back and the heavy underdogs, labeled as such by captain Lucas Neill in the build-up, had no luck grinding their way back into the contest. After 20 minutes, Garcia was again vaguely threatening, but his tame strike from the edge of the box failed to do justice to some clever approach work. The Germans were in the ascendancy and threatening from both flanks. In the 24th minute, Klose ? usually so reliable on the world stage ? fluffed an absolute sitter, blazing over a brilliant cross from out left by scorer Podolski, who was looking a new man after a disappointing season with Cologne.
It did not take long for Klose to make amends. With 26 minutes played, he rose high to head home an inch-perfect cross from captain Philipp Lahm, whose recent claim that this Germany side is the best he has played in suddenly began to gain weight. Oezil had another golden chance on the half-hour mark, but his delicate chip over Schwarzer was booted clear by Neill, who was leading a rearguard in serious danger of total collapse by the time the half-time whistle, mercifully for Australia, brought an end to the opening stanza.
The second half began with Neill unceremoniously planting a knee into the back of danger man Klose. That bit of impetuousness combined with a red card for Tim Cahill in the 56th minute for a reckless challenge on Bastian Schweinsteiger was the full measure of Aussie resistance. With a man advantage, the German juggernaut went into overdrive. Oezil and Podolski both went close to scoring from close range before the outstanding Mueller made it 3-0 with a sharp strike in off the post after a wily give-and-go with Podolski had cut a swathe through Australia's defence in the 66th minute. Two minutes later Cacau added a fourth and final goal with his first touch of the ball after coming on as a substitute for Klose, slotting home the simplest of finishes from six yards out.
The Germans' victory moved them level on three points with Ghana, winners against Serbia earlier in the day. Joachim Low's men next face the Serbs on 18 June in Nelson Mandela Bay while Australia will look to rebound against a powerful Black Stars side one day later in Rustenburg.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR PACHECO VS SADJO IN STOCKTON
Sat, 13 Dec 2025OFFICIAL WEIGHTS FROM TODAY'S CHM: 2 REMATCH SEASON CEREMONIAL WEIGH-INS IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES
Sat, 13 Dec 2025Donaire to fight Tsutsumi on December 17 in Japan
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 13 Dec 2025Nesthy faces Indon legend
By Joaquin Henson, Sat, 13 Dec 2025Bob Santos Joins Broadcast Team for Boxlab Promotions’ “Night of Champions XIII” During WBA’s 104th Annual Convention
Sat, 13 Dec 2025Championship Bouts Set for the Bantam and Intermediate Division
Sat, 13 Dec 2025SEAG Triathlon, aquathlon, duathlon in Rayong
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 13 Dec 2025Jeremy Marticio wins IIEE SIKAT, ICFF won PTC World Engineering Opening
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 13 Dec 2025Facularin to fight Torres on December 13 in Japan
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 12 Dec 2025Baricuatro wins, Veloso falters in SEAG boxing
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 12 Dec 2025BASH BOXING AND UP NEXT FIGHTING RETURN WITH SPECIAL EDITION UNF 29 TOMORROW NIGHT AT ACE · MISSION STUDIOS IN LOS ANGELES
Fri, 12 Dec 2025MERCADO AIMING TO SEND MESSAGE TO 140LB RIVALS
Fri, 12 Dec 2025Sullivan Management signs Influencer/pro boxer Brooklyn Barwick
Fri, 12 Dec 2025Round 12: Successful WBC Annual Convention in Bangkok (Photos)
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Fri, 12 Dec 2025Halfway Point Surpassed at the 2025 USA Boxing National Championships
Fri, 12 Dec 2025