Wednesday 23rd June, 2010 15 Villa scores 2, Serbia, Australia fight to stay in World Cup beats BY MARK WALSH NELSPRUIT, South Africa (AP) - Australia and Serbia have already experi- enced the highs and lows of this World Cup 2-0 ahead of their decisive Group D encounter on Wednesday. Australia suffered a red card in each of is good, we have a more than Chile in the first half. its opening matches, while Serbia conceded and if we beat Chile we're practically The Liverpool striker, making his penalties in both of its games. group winners, so we're happy," Villa first start since right knee surgery in But on the positive side, Serbia bounced said. "The good thing is that this result April, headed over the bar before send- back from an opening defeat against Ghana means we depend on ourselves." ing a shot high in the 33rd. He then to beat , while Australia's 4-0 Villa single-handedly took the pres- wasted Villa's fine pass from inside the thrashing at the hands of the Germans was sure off Spain - a favorite coming into area at the close of the half. followed by a battling 1-1 draw with ten men the tournament in South Africa - with a Honduras brought striker Georgie against Ghana. superb individual opener that helped Welcome on for after After those ups and downs, both sides erase the frustrating 1-0 loss to the restart but were left exposed as are left in the position of knowing defeat in Switzerland. Hernandez guided the breakout that led Wednesday's match at Nelspruit's Mbombela His fifth World Cup goal put him to Villa's second goal. stadium could equal an early flight home. even with four Spain players as the Spain was guilty of using too many Australia needs to win and also rely on country's leading scorer in the competi- touches as it blew great buildups on goal a favorable result in the simultaneous tion and moved him within four goals of either side of Villa's penalty miss, and Ghana-Germany game to reach the round of Raul Gonzalez's record of 44 for the finally got a shot off for 16. If Australia and Ghana both win, national team. Honduras in the 65th. Australia is through. If Germany wins, "It's a shame," Villa said. "I could Cesc Fabregas came on for Xavi in Australia must beat Serbia and hope its goal have passed (the other four players) the 66th and rounded Valladares with difference is boosted and Ghana's reduced with a penalty but I'm still happy with his first touch only for Chavez to clear it by a sum of five goals. A Germany-Ghana this result." off the goal line. Fabregas, who didn't draw would leave Australia having to win Spain's goes to score the second goal during the World Cup group The win improved Spain's chances play against the Swiss, was a constant by seven goals. H soccer match between Spain and Honduras at Ellis Park Stadium in of avoiding a potential matchup with threat as Spain peppered its opponent's For Serbia, a win guarantees progres- Johannesburg, South Africa, Monday, June 21, 2010. (AP) Brazil in the round of 16. goal to the end, with Ramos coming sion, while a draw would also do the job pro- Spain attacked from the start and close in the 67th. vided Ghana wins. Jesus Navas was tripped up inside the created a handful of early chances, Not much separates the two sides BY PAUL LOGOTHETIS right side of the area. including a long-range shot from Villa Lineups: according to FIFA's rankings; Serbia is in JOHANNESBURG (AP) - David Villa Spain has three points and can still that beat the outstretched Valladares Spain: , 15th spot, with the Australians five places scored two goals Monday to put Spain's win Group H with a victory over Chile, but hit the crossbar in the seventh. (Alvaro Arbeloa, 77), , further back. World Cup back on track with a 2-0 vic- which earlier beat Switzerland 1-0 and Ramos, whose ninth-minute penalty Gerard Pique, Joan Capdevila, Jesus Australia's preparation has been ham- tory over Honduras. leads with six points. Switzerland has appeal was waived away,headed Joan Navas, , Xavi (Cesc pered by suspensions to two key players. Villa beat three defenders in the three points and Honduras has zero. Capdevila's cross over at the far post in Fabregas, 66), , Fernando Forward Harry Kewell will miss out after 17th minute at Ellis Park and Honduras "The result the 11th. Torres (Juan Manuel Mata, 70), David his red card against Ghana and experienced goalkeeper got a touch Spain's defense provided goalkeeper Villa. defender Craig Moore is sidelined after on the rising shot but couldn't keep it Iker Casillas with some nervous Honduras: Noel Valladares, Sergio picking up two yellow cards. out. Villa scored his 40th goal in the 51st moments soon after as the captain Mendoza, Osman Chavez, Maynor "They still have good players in the when his shot from the edge of the area rushed to catch a high ball before block- Figueroa, Emillio Izaguirre, Wilson reserves, but these two are big players for deflected off a defender and went over ing 's shot just before Palacios, Amado Guevara, Danilio them," Serbia captain Dejan Stankovic said. Valladares. Villa's goal. Turcios (Ramon Nunez, 63), Walter "We will try to use that to our advantage." The Spain striker had a chance for a Navas' speed kept Honduras off-kil- Martinez, Roger Espinoza (Georgie The brighter news for Australia is that hat trick but he missed a penalty in the ter, while - uncharac- Welcome, 46), David Suazo (Jerry attacking Tim Cahill is available 62nd. Spain earned the penalty when teristically - missed three clear chances Palacios, 84). after serving a one-match ban for his red card against the Germans. Cahill averages a goal every second BY NESHA STARCEVIC game for the Socceroos and his ability to JOHANNESBURG (AP) - Ghana arrive late in the box from midfield is already has one milestone behind it among the national team's principal and now it stands a victory away from weapons. achieving maybe an even bigger one - Australia coach Pim Verbeek was pillo- sending Germany to its earliest exit ried for playing Cahill up front against the from a World Cup. Germans - an experiment that probably Ghana became the first African won't be repeated, with tall striker Josh team to win a World Cup game on Kennedy likely to start. African soil when it beat Serbia 1-0 in "This week I have kept myself really its Group D opener. Now it can ensure fresh and sharp and made sure that the that Germany exits at the group stage management can see that I'm edging to still for the first time ever. be in selection and make sure that I try and Going into the decisive final round, start," Cahill said Ghana leads the group on four points, At the back, Moore's likely replacement Germany and Serbia have three and is Michael Beauchamp, who stands 1.91 Australia is on one, meaning all four meters (6 feet 3 inches) tall and could be a have a chance of progressing and all useful attribute to counter Serbia's 2.02m (6 are at risk of missing out. feet, 7- 1/2 inch) Nikola Zigic. A win over Ghana would see Despite the collapse against Germany, Germany through, and a draw would be Australian sports stars have a reputation enough for the Germans if Serbia fails for relishing competition. to beat Australia. "They are a very competitive, honest Both sides will be eager to improve football team," midfielder on their previous performances: Stankovic said. "They are fighters and they Germany suffered a surprise 1-0 loss to showed that by holding Ghana with 10 men. Serbia, while Ghana failed to capitalize We expect them to come out fighting. on an early red card to the Australians "They have a good collectiveness. We and was held to a 1-1 draw. German skipper , left, runs away from Germany's , center, and Germany's Mario respect their quality, but we will do our best The Germans remained optimistic Gomez, right, as they play rugby during a team training session of the German national soccer team at the Super to beat them." despite an unconvincing display stadium in Atteridgeville near Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, June 21, 2010. Germany is playing in Group D of the Serbia can count on players from some against Serbia. Coach Joachim Loew soccer World Cup. of Europe's top clubs. Nemanja Vidic is a and captain Philipp Lahm have both (AP Photo/Gero Breloer) regular in the center of Manchester said Germany will advance "100 per- United's defense, while Branislav Ivanovic cent." hamstring injury ruled him out of the impressed with Chelsea in the season past. "We know our qualities and have Germany and Ghana in match against Australia. Mensah's Inter Milan midfielder Stankovic is no doubt that we'll make it," striker usual central defensive partner, Isaac fresh from victory in the UEFA Champions' said Monday. Vorsah, remains in doubt. League and also carries the distinction of The Brazil-born Cacau is likely to Like Germany, Ghana is at the playing in his third World Cup - each time start up front, as is sus- World Cup without its injured regular for a different nation. He represented the pended after being sent off with two captain, Michael Essien - Ballack's former state Yugoslavia in the 1998 World yellow cards against Serbia. decisive match Chelsea teammate. Cup and for the combined Serbia and "I can see that my teammates have "I don't think there is pressure on Montenegro four years ago. The latter union the confidence that we'll win," Cacau we get rid of mistakes we made against World Cup history. us," Mensah said. "They will probably was dissolved the same year when said. Serbia, we'll be fine. Kevin-Prince Boateng, the man have more pressure because they are Montenegro declared independence. Central defender Arne Friedrich "They have good forwards but if we whose tackle in the English F.A. Cup the favorites. Serbia will have defender Aleksandar also exuded confidence. put pressure on them we'll cause them final took Ballack out of the World Cup, "We all know Germany has a good Lukovic available after his one-game sus- "We all believe we will make it, to make mistakes." will be on the opposite side Wednesday. team, but we believe we have a good pension, but six other players are carrying from coach Loew down. The loss to Germany has been in similar situa- Boateng was born in Berlin and team as well. We have to keep things yellow cards and in danger of picking up a Serbia was a blow but we still believe tions before - two years ago it needed to played for Germany's junior teams tight, stay compact and I'm sure we can suspension for the round of 16. we'll go through," Friedrich said. beat host Austria in the final group before switching allegiance to the land win the match." The situation has prompted coach "We are in the kind of situation match to advance at the European of his father. His half brother Jerome Defender Hans Adu Sarpei, who Radomir Antic to look at alternatives when we have to prove ourselves and if Championship and it did, then went all is a Germany defender. has played his entire career in ahead of this decisive match. the way to the According to Jerome, the two have Germany and is now at Bayer "My philosophy is not TODAY’S MATCHES final. not had contact since the start of the Leverkusen, believes Ghana can based on individual play," But the win- World Cup, after Kevin-Prince had com- exploit weaknesses in Germany's Antic said. "In order to Match Date Time (SL) ning goal against plained that the hostile reaction in defense, although Ghana has yet to succeed you need teamwork. United States vs. Algeria 23 Jun 7:30 p.m. Austria came from Germany to his foul on Ballack had score from open play in two games, Every individual brings some- Slovenia vs. England 23 Jun 7:30 p.m. captain Michael racist elements. with both its goals coming from penal- thing to the table which helps Ballack, who was "It was stupid that something like ties. to mold us as a unity. Australia vs. Serbia 24 Jun 12:00 a.m. forced out of this that became public ... but I wish him "This is a big game. This situa- "When we came here we Ghana vs. Germany 24 Jun 12:00 a.m. World Cup by an the best and I will shake his hand tion of win or die makes it much wanted to give all ankle injury, con- before the match," said Jerome, who is bigger. Myself, Kevin-Prince Boateng players an opportu- 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP MONDAY’S RESULTS tributing to unlikely to start. and the rest of the team must be calm nity to play," he added. "We Germany having Ghana has a Serbian coach, Milan and go into the game with our minds will try to accomplish that on Spain 2 : 0 Honduras the second Rajevac, who will have central defender and not emotions so we don't get red Wednesday. Everyone is raring Chile 1 : 0 Switzerland youngest team in and captain John Mensah back after a cards," Sarpei said. to go." 7 : 0 North Korea