JOHANNESBURG, (Reuters) – Serbia beat an out-of-sorts Germany and Algeria held dire England yesterday in the latest setbacks for Europe’s soccer aristocrats during an increasingly tight battle for World Cup second round berths.
With underdogs punching above their weight to the delight of neutrals around the world, Slovenia — the smallest country at the tournament with a population of just over two million — came close to beating the United States in the day’s other game.
No European side has won a World Cup outside their continent, and in South Africa outsiders have remarkably taken the scalps of France, Spain and Germany in the first round.
In yesterday’s first game, three-times world champions Germany had Miroslav Klose sent off and lacked their famous cool at penalties to miss a spot kick in the 1-0 loss to Serbia.
Germany still lead Group D on goal difference, however.
They, Serbia and Ghana — yet to play their second game — all have three points in a tight group.
SLOVENIA SHINE AGAINST U.S
The United States’ chances of elimination rose sharply when stylish Slovenia stunned them with two first half goals. But they came alive with a superb Landon Donovan strike, equalised eight minutes from time and had a goal disallowed at the death.
“I don’t know how they stole that third goal from us,” Donovan said of Malian referee Koman Coulibaly’s decision in the biggest officiating controversy of the tournament so far.
After a goalkeeping gaffe that drew mockery from around the globe in their opening game, England attracted boos from their army of fans in a 0-0 draw with Algeria that ranks as one of their worst tournament performances for years.
The result left England third in Group C and facing a possible embarrassing first-round exit in what had looked an easy draw. Algeria, whose passing and confidence at times outshone their higher-ranking opponents, picked up their first point.
“We need to improve but we weren’t good enough in the final third,” a dejected England captain Steven Gerrard said.
“We’ve got no excuses.”
England will face a similar media savaging to France after their 2-0 defeat by Mexico. Newspapers in Paris lambasted them as “Imposters”, “Disgraceful” and “Pathetic”.
Following an uninspired 0-0 draw with Uruguay in their first game, France are on the brink of elimination. Irish eyes though may be twinkling, since France qualified for the finals by beating them through Thierry Henry’s infamous handball.
“We feel like a small footballing nation and it hurts,” admitted French captain Patrice Evra honestly.
AFRICA’S PARTY FIZZLING
Ghana are the only one of six African teams to have won in the continent’s first World Cup. Disappointingly, South Africa will be the first host nation eliminated in a first round unless they beat France and the other game in Group A goes their way.
Africa’s poor showing and the freezing winter weather in South Africa have dampened local enthusiasm and left fan parks deserted compared to the heaving parties for opening games.
“We just need one big African win to get the party going again,” said hardy fan Jon Lebro, with a smattering of people at one park.
Ghana have a chance to do that against Australia today.
Amid an inquisition over Spain’s shock defeat to Mexico — which saw them displaced by Brazil as bookies’ favourites — British media said the pitch-side presence of keeper Iker Casillas’ glamorous journalist girlfriend was a fatal distraction.
The presence of wives and girlfriends has long been a taxing question for international football coaches: do they make players lose focus or help ease the tension?
Diego Maradona’s Argentina have taken a relaxed approach to the issue and it seems to be paying off with two wins out of two in a fantastic tournament so far for Latin American teams.
“Sex isn’t a problem. It’s only a problem if they’re doing it at two in the morning with a bottle of champagine on the go,” team doctor Donato Villani said before the tournament.
