Germany, impressive in their bow against Austrailia, saw their odds of lifting the cup shorten after last weekend. However, against Serbia they were wasteful and easily rattled, and paid the price for a Miroslav Klose red card and a host of scuppered chances from Lukas Podolski - one of which from the penalty spot.
Serbia's goal was more opportunistic than it was spectacular, coming less than two minutes after Klose's harsh dismissal for two yellows. However this apparent case of karma after Tim Cahill's questionable straight red led to 2-0 becoming four last week can only take so much away from the goal after fine work from Milos Krasic and Nikola Zigic created the opening for Liverpool new boy Milan Jovanovic to net the winner.
An inexplicable repeat of the flamboyant handball that cost Serbia dearly against Ghana - this time from Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic - gave the Germans a prime opportunity to put the defecit right from twelve yards only for Podolski to fire a low, hard penalty kick right to into the dive of Vladimir Stojkovic.
Podolski looked a far cry from five days previously throughout the contest and scuppered many a chance to get his side back into the game. However, the Serbians were just as guilty whenever the opportunity arose to counter against ten men.
At times, they seemed unsure as to how to swiftly spring forward, running in pairs and hesitating far too much before making the crucial pass. It was a lack of killer instinct which separates decent sides from tournament winners.
Nonetheless, they kept the all important clean sheet with a disciplined display against a German side who after showing the world how lethal they could be when things went their way, have now also revealed just how ordinary they are in the face of adversity.
The Serbia upset led to an extremely unexpected scenario in the 15:00 game between England's group rivals Slovenia and the United States: a win for Slovenia would see them become the first team to guarantee their place in the last sixteen. Anyone see that coming?
For 65 minutes of a surprisingly exciting contest, it appeared to be exactly what would happen: a stunning long range effort from Valter Birsa gave the Slovenians the lead, and as the Americans began to take over in search of an equaliser but for some superb last-ditch defending, their own back line was exposed with some shrewd sidestepping of the offside trap leaving Zlatan Ljubijankic to cooly finish the counter attack for 2-0.
It was a severe blow to a States side not only tipped to win this game, but who were really beginning to finally show some of the tenacity, desire and ability on display twelve months ago at the Confederations Cup.
Coach Bob Bradley made two half-time changes and it would seem also said the right words during the interval and within three minutes of the whistle USA were back in the game courtesy of a fine Landon Donovan strike which resembled Maicon's tight-angled goal for Brazil v North Korea, only far more deliberate and yet also far less stylish in the build.
Though this was exactly where the score remained for over half an hour, the action continued to flow both ways and captivate the impressive crowd in attendance. However, even at their most dangerous Slovenia were clearly fearful of losing all momentum they had built - and with less than ten to go, they did.
Sending more and more numbers into attack in an effort to salvage their World Cup campaign, the States found their chance as Joey Altidore did well in bringing down the ball into the path of a long sprint from midfield by manager's son Michael Bradley, who put away the equaliser with a good first-time effort.
The Americans should have been the winners, too, but for a Maurice Edu winner being disallowed even though no clear infringement could be spotted - aside from some blatant grabbing by Slovenia defenders, that is.
One nation who would have been extremely pleased that the goal was struck off were England: the draw was the perfect result as they prepared to make amends for a flat second half performance against the US, where Rob Green's error led to a 1-1 draw.
David James was put into the England goal in Green's place for this one, with Jamie Carragher and fit again Gareth Barry replacing James Milner and crocked Ledley King in what was a crucial game and massive opportunity against one of the most unconvincing sides in the entire first wave of fixtures.
Unfortunately, as you'll all know by now, the highly-paid stars brandishing the Three Lions were dire, absolutely dire.
Every passing minute of the game, each unfathomably poor pass and pointless off-target long effort gave the Algerians growing hope that they could get a fantastic point here - or even go on to nick a win.
Steven Gerrard, fresh off a commanding performance against USA, was limp and wasteful. The Gareth Barry factor lamented as being sorely missed in the last game was in fact minimal. Wayne Rooney was a shadow of the Man Utd talisman scoring goals for fun this past season. And Emile Heskey was... Emile Heskey.
The reaction to the boos from their own fans, over 40,000 who'd travelled the many miles to South Africa for the game, at the final whistle was as shocking as the performance. I've long been a critic of fans turning on their team during a game, no matter how bad the performance. My view is that no matter how much you want to bang on about how you paid hard-earned money to watch these men play, launching a petulant tirade on their failings in the middle of a match is never going to actually improve things and get those fans the result and/or performance they apparently want.
However, last night in Cape Town the England support were spot on with their appraisal of their side's efforts with the game over and the point in the books, leaving victory against a decent Slovenia side an absolute must if Capello's men are to extend their stay on African soil.
If only more fans could hold their fire until the final whistle, I'd complain less about such vocal protests and here, every English football fan had a right to complain.
What has made the last two England games worse is the manner in which they qualified. Fabio Capello managed to convince the world that he had the tools to take the country's potential and talent at club level and turn it into something more with solid tactics and a popular selection policy based on form and hunger.
Many English opinions wilted somewhat when the likes of Darren Bent, Scott Parker and Michael Dawson were left behind in favour of Emile Heskey, Michael Carrick and Jamie Carragher - and the irony is, in forsaking his beliefs from the qualification stages in favour of 'name value' and 'big stage experience', Capello has exposed his own lack of experience when it comes to major international tournaments.
It should also be said, however, that some of the criticism coming England's way is laughable, considering the protection offered the Germans, Italians and even the Spaniards in their own struggles to make the second round as comfortably as predicted. We must all remember that with only one or two games played, no matter how good or bad anyone has been so far, all of the marquee nations are as liable to an early exit as each other, just as they are still capable of squeezing through and turning things around.
All it takes is good form or even just good results at the right time - unfortunately, the English have little reason to believe that it will happen.
THE GAMES SO FAR:
- Argentina v South Korea, Group B, June 17 (4-1) - 9
- United States v Slovenia, Group C, June 18 (2-2) - 8.5
- Germany v Austrailia, Group D, June 13 (4-0) - 8
- Spain v Switzerland, Group H, June 16 (0-1) - 8
- Brazil v North Korea, Group G, June 15 (2-1) - 7.5
- South Africa v Mexico, Group A, June 11 (1-1) - 7.5
- Chile v Honduras, Group H, June 16 (1-0) - 7
- South Africa v Uruguay, Group A, June 16 (0-3) - 7
- Nigeria v Greece, Group B, June 17 (1-2) - 7
- Argentina v Nigeria, Group B, June 12 (1-0) - 6.5
- Germany v Serbia, Group D, June 18 (0-1) - 6.5
- New Zealand v Slovakia, Group F, June 15 (1-1) - 6.5
- France v Mexico, Group A, June 17 (0-2) - 6
- Ghana v Serbia, Group D, June 13 (1-0) - 6
- England v United States, Group C, June 12 (1-1) - 6
- South Korea v Greece, Group B, June 12 (2-0) - 6
- Japan v Cameroon, Group E, June 14 (1-0) - 6
- Holland v Denmark, Group E, June 14 (2-0) - 6
- Italy v Paraguay, Group F, June 14 (1-1) - 5.5
- Cote d'Ivoire v Portugal, Group G, June 15 (0-0) - 4.5
- England v Algeria, Group C, June 18 (0-0) - 3
- France v Uruguay, Group A, June 11 (0-0) - 3
- Algeria v Slovenia, Group C, June 13 (0-1) - 3
THE GOALS SO FAR:
- Tshabalala (South Africa v Mexico, June 11) 9
- Higuain [3] (Argentina v South Korea, June 17) 9
- Birsa (Slovenia v United States, June 18) 9
- Forlan (Uruguay v South Africa, June 16) 8.5
- Maicon (Brazil v North Korea, June 15) 8.5
- Podolski (Germany v Australia, June 13) 8
- Yun-Nam Ji (North Korea v Brazil, June 15) 8
- Donovan (United States v Slovenia, June 18) 8
- Ljubijankic (Slovenia v United States, June 18) 8
- Klose (Germany v Australia, June 13) 7.5
- Ji-Sung Park (South Korea v Greece, June 12) 7.5
- Muller (Germany v Australia, June 13) 7.5
- Elano (Brazil v North Korea, June 15) 7.5
- Uche (Nigeria v Greece, June 17) 7.5
- Gerrard (England v United States, June 12) 7.5
- Bradley (United States v Slovenia, June 18) 7
- Heinze (Argentina v Nigeria, June 12) 7
- Reid (New Zealand v Slovakia, June 15) 7
- Higuain [1] (Argentina v South Korea, June 17) 7
- Honda (Japan v Cameroon, June 14) 7
- Pereira (Uruguay v South Africa, June 16) 7
- Hernandez (Mexico v France, June 17) 7
- Cacau (Germany v Australia, June 13) 7
- Alcaraz (Paraguay v Italy, June 14) 7
- Jovanovic (Serbia v Germany, June 18) 7
- Chong-Yong Lee (South Korea v Argentina, June 17) 6.5
- Fernandes (Switzerland v Spain, June 16) 6.5
- Beausejour (Chile v Honduras, June 16) 6
- Jung-Soo Lee (South Korea v Greece, June 12) 6
- Kuyt (Holland v Denmark, June 14) 6
- Koren (Slovenia v Algeria, June 13) 6
- Higuain [2] (Argentina v South Korea, June 17) 5.5
- Marquez (Mexico v South Africa, June 11) 5
- Salpingidis (Greece v Nigeria, June 17) 5
- Dempsey (United States v England, June 12) 5
- Torosidis (Greece v Nigeria, June 17) 4.5
- De Rossi (Italy v Paraguay, June 14) 4.5
- Vittek (Slovakia v New Zealand, June 15) 4
Tomorrow it's back to weekend blogging with Holland/Japan, Ghana/Australia and Denmark Cameroon keeping us occupied!
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