Port Elizabeth: Germany's surprise 1-0 loss to Serbia leaves the three-time champion pondering the unthinkable — first-round elimination from the World Cup.
Germany impressed with a 4-0 opening victory over Australia that unleashed euphoria back home, only to have its young team brought down to earth harshly on Friday — due mainly to mistakes of a pair of team veterans and a determined Serbia side.
"It is important to build up the team mentally now," Germany coach Joachim Loew said.
Germany's predicament was much of its own doing — striker Miroslav Klose was sent off in the 37th minute and Lukas Podolski had a 60th-minute penalty saved by Serbia goalkeeper Vladimir Stojakovic.
Milan Jovanovic scored at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium one minute after Klose's second booking, both for rough tackling.
"Luck was not on our side today but we can't let our spirits go down," Loew said. "We still have a good chance of advancing to the second round and we will achieve that."
Much will depend on Ghana's game against Australia on Saturday and Germany's own match against the Africans on Wednesday in Johannesburg. Ghana beat Serbia 1-0 in its opener in Group D.
"We have to show team spirit now. We are facing a game that is like a final," Podolski said.
Germany lost a group game for the first time since a 1986 loss to Denmark, 2-0. Still, Germany went to the final then.
If there is any solace, Germany went through a similar pattern at the European Championship two years ago, losing its second game to Croatia after an opening win against Poland — and again went all the way to the final.
"We wanted to avoid such a repeat of a situation where we did not want to be under so much pressure in our last match," Loew said.
"My team played much better in the second half today, with a bit of luck we would have reached a draw. We also lost a lot of energy playing a man down," he said.
Klose and Podolski both scored against Australia and were celebrated after that match, especially Klose, who notched his 11th World Cup goal.
Podolski took the blame for the poorly taken penalty but wanted to put it behind him quickly.
"It was my fault. I missed," Podolski said. "I accept responsibility and I don't want to dwell on it."
Klose contested the second yellow card that sent him off the field.
"Football is a contact sport and one factor should be whether there was malice and intention," said Klose, who has 11 World Cup goals. "I thought I went after the ball."
Overall, however, Germany's performance was several notches below the impressive display against Australia, but the Serbs did their part too in stifling the flowing game Loew has been striving for. Also, Germany may have paid for the lack of experience of some players.
Klose and Podolski are, however, among the veterans of Loew's team.
"It is obvious that we are going to be under more pressure now, but we will make the round of 16," Loew was still confident.
"We are devastated by this result, but we have the willingness to go through to the next round. I don't think this will bog us down too badly. We still have the fate in our hands," he said.
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