A win for Germany could book their passage to the next round, while a defeat for Serbia and a draw in the Ghana vs Australia game would mean Serbia would become the first team eliminated.

Serbia did so well in qualifying but came unstuck against Ghana; when Aleksandar Lukovic earned a second yellow card with fifteen minutes to go and then conceded a silly penalty.

In just seven minutes, Serbia came close to conceding a goal in Port Elizabeth; as Lukas Podolski sliced the ball wide of the post.

After a seemingly positive start by both teams, the referee started to make more use of his whistle and notebook; booking two Serbian players in two minutes, only six minutes after Miroslav Klose earned the first yellow card of the game.

Sami Khedira was next to have his name taken - making that two players from each team, with just 22 minutes played.

Serbia nodded off on the half-hour mark, but Miroslav Klose was flagged for offside before the ball hit the back of the net. Players have been booked for that before, and Klose is already on a yellow card.

The story of this game is really about the Spanish referee as Miroslav Klose was given his second yellow card for a soft foul while chasing back.

With Germany down to ten men, Serbia were quick to take advantage; scoring in the next minute as Milos Krasic crossed from the right, for Nikola Zigic to head down into the middle and Milan Jovanovic to make the most of the gifted opportunity.

Then just before the half ended, Germany's Sami Khedira saw his shot crash off the bar.

Half-time: 0:1

What a shame FIFA can't substitute referees at half-time.

Germany tried to get back on level terms, as the referee kept his cards close to his chest for the first ten minutes of the re-start; although Philipp Lahm's heart might have skipped a beat when the whistle went against him. Joachim Löw rose from the bench in frustration; probably fearing a second yellow card for his captain.

Then two cards in three minutes, for Serbia; the second to Nemanja Vidic, for sticking out his hand in the penalty area - the second time Serbia have gifted a penalty at the 2010 World Cup Finals.

Lukas Podolski shot from the spot; low, to Vladimir Stojkovic's left. The Wigan Athletic goalkeeper was equal to it and Germany failed to level the score.

Can Ghana top the group later today, or will Australia get the result to put everyone on three points?

So much can change in the World Cup groups. Just when you thought you knew where the teams were going, in steps a referee to make it all interesting. Nothing to do with Spain losing to Switzerland in their opening game, of course. And England, so desperate to win Group C and avoid Germany, may still find themselves on course for a Second Round penalty shoot-out.
So Germany can be beaten and they can miss penalties!

The ironic thing is, England will win their group, Germany will be runners-up in theirs; the two teams will meet in the next round and Germany won't have to score more than three penalties because England will miss more.

The ball might be round, but this one is rounder than round.

Germany 0 Serbia 1