Beer And The Outback: The Battle Of Germany-Australia

First of all, my first missed game of the World Cup is Ghana versus Serbia. I didn't have a chance to watch it yesterday, and found out the score, so I am only watching the last twenty minutes of it today before digging in to today's matches. This won't let me get enough of a taste to write about it. All that needs to be said is that I was spot on with my initial prediction, a 1-0 win for Ghana, which sparked all sorts of happiness across Africa, the first win for the continent in the cup; and also, I had no fantasy players in this game, so that took the edge of my need to catch up.

The best game of the day--as defined as the game I most anticipated--is Germany versus Australia. I would love to see an upset here, but I think Germany will be too strong, so I'm sticking with my ORIGINAL PREDICTION: GERMANY 3, AUSTRALIA 1

FANTASY UPDATE: PHILIPP LAHM STARTS ON DEFENSE FOR GERMANY.

Time for an 11:30 beer.

Australia kicks off, works in for a shot right away, but no real danger. No Harry Kewell starting for Australia, as he is recovering from injury.

And oh so nearly, Australia again nearly scores, two chances in the first four minutes. The German defense got lost on a corner kick.

And a lapse on defense nearly puts Miroslav Klose through on goal. Australia recovers to concede a corner kick.

AND PODOLSKI SCORES OFF A FINE PASS FROM THOMAS MUELLER. THE AUSTRALIANS THOUGHT MUELLER WAS OFFSIDES, BUT IT WAS A PERFECTLY TIMED RUN.

And an excellent yellow card on Germany's Oezil for a blatant dive. Good stuff so far from the refs in all games. The British commentator in the Algeria-Slovenia game called them exemplary. I love to hear the refs praised in a British accent with multiple syllables. It just seems so dignified that way.

Germany looks crisp and efficient so far, with lots of clever and well-timed runs. So far, they look a serious contender for the cup. And yes, this is fifteen minutes into the game.

Australia with a run and cross against the run of play, but the header is not on target. Australia needs to hold it together and not concede again too soon.

And another great chance for the Socceroos, nice passing and touches, but the shot is over the bar and wide.

Mueller makes another dangerous cross. They seem to have Australia's defense overmatched.

Podolski breaks past the defense, crosses briliantly, and Klose misses horribly wide with the goal at his mercy. Craig Moore gets a yellow card for dissent. Australia are looking for offsides a lot, and Germany has been flagged for offsides on several occasions, but they really are fast enough and timing their runs well enough that Australia can't count on that flag.

AND THIS TIME, KLOSE BEATS SCHWARZER TO A DANGEROUS CROSS AND HEADS IT INTO THE NET. MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE CROSS WAS FROM LAHM, SO FANTASY POINTS FOR ME.

Australia is in serious trouble now. Their defense is not fast enough to cope with the German forwards.

Lucas Neill saves off the line to prevent it being 3-0. Oezil beats the offside trap again and beats the keeper, but Neill is there to save the day, or at least to delay the inevitable third goal.

So far, Germany has played by far the best soccer of the tournament, ahead of South Korea. I'm a fan.

Mueller again dances past the defense down the right flank, earning a corner kick.

And more elegant interplay, Lahm bursts into the box, crosses well, and Khedira heads over the bar.

And so close to three-nil again: Oezil gets a great pass that sliced past the defense, but his first touch lets him down.

Great first half for Germany. Worst nightmare for Australia. Well, not the worst possible nightmare, as Germany could easily have two or three more goals.

HALFTIME.

Does Australia have help for their defense off the bench? They need faster defenders to keep up with the German wingplay, particularly Mueller.

Australia replaces Grella, a midfielder, with Brett Holman, another midfielder. As Germany kicks off, Lucas Neill picks up a yellow card for a challenge from behind on Klose.

Holman creates space nicely for himself and shoots just wide of the far post. Australia needs more of that. They also need to move more off the ball.

Great play, great dummy by Khedira, but Mueller shoots just high. Beautiful soccer.

Ouch. Tim Cahill gets a red card on a challenge that deserved maybe only a yellow. That ends Australia's challenge in this game, and hurts them going forward.

And now a yellow card on Australia, to Carl Valeri.

And again, Germany comes tantalizingly close to a third goal after some great close-range passing between Klose and Podolski.

AND THERE IT IS, MUELLER GETTING A WELL-DESERVED THIRD GOAL AFTER GREAT PASSING AND RUNNING WITH PODOLSKI.

AND FOUR GOALS. CACAU JUST ON AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR KLOSE SCORES VERY EASILY FROM A GREAT CROSS FROM THE LEFT HAND SIDE BY OEZIL.

Germany looks certain to go through, and the only question will be if Ghana or Serbia can pose more of a challenge than did Australia.