(Sometimes) even the Germans miss penalties
In six penalty shoot-outs in their history, the “Panzers” have only missed two, scoring 25 out of 27!Uli Stielike was the only German player to miss a penalty in a World Cup − semi-final shootout in 1982 against France.
Uli Hoeness missed a penalty kick in the 1976 European Championship for West Germany against Czechoslovakia.
Today, Lukas Podolsky gained his entry to this “elite club” by missing his penalty kick in the 60th minute, sending a weak shot to the left of Serbian goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic, at the same time also missing to score a highly deserved equalizer for the Germans.
Spanish referee Alberto Undiano is a complete clown! - a true joker who handed out NINE yellow cards!
Miroslav Klose was sent off the field for running after Dejan Stankovic on the halfway line and missing a truly honest attempt to get his leg around the ball. His move ended up to be a clear foul, but like his first booking (he was booked in the 12th minute for a foul − which was an accidental tangle of legs − on Jovanovic), was nowhere close to a yellow card. Milan Jovanovic scored a minute later.
The Germans had a tougher game than they did against Australia on Sunday against a defensively well accomplished Serbian side that desperately was in need of points after loosing against Ghana in their opener. Even a draw against the Germans did not seem to be enough for them.
Sami Khedira, in stoppage time of the first half, hit the bar for Germany. Jovanovic (67. min) hit the post for Serbia.
Taking off Mesut Ozil, who was playing really well, was a strange Joachim Löw move and Germany, to be honest, did not have any fluency after that. Cacau, who came in for Ozil, was desperate and useless.
Stankovic’s ‘kick’ − in the 90+2 minute − to the bottom of a German player’s foot looked like a penalty.
10-men Germany finished the game with 51% possession over the Serbians (49%).
A sensational result (1-0) for the Serbian team at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth, even if it was basically the result of a terrible refereeing decision, leaves Group D wide open. If Serbia beats Australia and Ghana either wins, or draws against the Australians, Germany will need to beat Ghana in the last Group match to avoid elimination in the first round −- for the first time in 72 years!
The Germans truly did not deserve to loose the game.
"The first 90 minutes are the most important"
