Serbia wary of 'machine-like' Germany
Friday, 18 June 2010
PORT ELIZABETH, June 17 (AFP): Serbia are hurting after their opening defeat to Ghana and must show no fear if they are to stop 'machine-like' Germany here on Friday, striker Milan Jovanovic says.
Germany, arguably the team of the tournament at the World Cup so far, can all but seal a last 16 ticket with victory over the Serbs.
A stylish 4-0 demolition of Australia in their opener has left Joachim Loew's German side sitting pretty atop Group D.
Mathematically it is possible they could still be squeezed out but that would require a combination of improbable upsets, not least Australia's transformation from makeweights to maneaters in their remaining games.
But Serbia are not in South Africa by accident, having excelled in qualifying to top their table forcing former champions France into the playoffs. And Jovanovic has called on his teammates to go for Germany's jugular after his side's 1-0 reverse against Ghana in their first match.
"Defeat has influenced our mood," the Standard Liege striker told FIFA.com.
"We had expected to win the match against Ghana and we are all hurt by that failure. We missed out on our aim against an inferior rival and now we are in a position where we have to get as many points as possible against better teams than us.
Germany, arguably the team of the tournament at the World Cup so far, can all but seal a last 16 ticket with victory over the Serbs.
A stylish 4-0 demolition of Australia in their opener has left Joachim Loew's German side sitting pretty atop Group D.
Mathematically it is possible they could still be squeezed out but that would require a combination of improbable upsets, not least Australia's transformation from makeweights to maneaters in their remaining games.
But Serbia are not in South Africa by accident, having excelled in qualifying to top their table forcing former champions France into the playoffs. And Jovanovic has called on his teammates to go for Germany's jugular after his side's 1-0 reverse against Ghana in their first match.
"Defeat has influenced our mood," the Standard Liege striker told FIFA.com.
"We had expected to win the match against Ghana and we are all hurt by that failure. We missed out on our aim against an inferior rival and now we are in a position where we have to get as many points as possible against better teams than us.