All over. That’s all from me for tonight.
Be sure to join us from midday on Monday – you’ll be at work, so why not?
It’s an attractive one too: Holland v Denmark in the opening game from Group E. Arjen Robben is unlikely to play any part, which will put the creative burden on Wesley Sneijder. There could also be a chance for Eljero Elia, another of the JOE team’s one-to-watch picks for this tournament.
If you’re stuck for something to read, why not check out our team profiles of both Holland and Denmark.
A minute left. As you can guess, not much happening. Germany impressive but easy to read too much into it. Australia were poor even before Tim Cahill was sent off. If he misses the group games against Serbia and Ghana through suspension, I doubt they’ll get a point.
Sami Khedira, the rangy young Stuttgart midfielder, has looked very good for Germany too.
Having said that, a 10-man Australia are about as good as a 13-man Irish rugby team.
This one dying a death now. Mesut Ozil and Lukas Podolski, two of the Germans’ outstanding players, are off for Gomez and Marko Marin.
Mario Gomez ready to come on for Germany. This game could even be easy enough for him to score.
GOAL GERMANY!
And another. Germany are springing the malfunctioning Aussie offside trap at will. Mesut Ozil gets through, picks out Cacau and the substitute applies the finish with almost his first touch.
GOAL GERMANY!
Another well-taken goal by Germany. Thomas Muller from the edge of the box – he feigned a shot on his left and took it on his right, in off Schwarzer’s right hand post.
Think that was a one-two-one. Klose to Podolski to Klose, but the shot goes just wide.
Klose and Khedira both have chances for a third. Schwarzer makes a good stop from Klose and Craig Moore’s presence prevented Khedira from following up.
And another – Podolski forces the save from Schwarzer. If Germany are ruthless – and they’ve been known for it – this could get bad for Australia.
Red card!
Tim Cahill shown a straight red card for a tackle on Bastian Schweinsteiger.
Just saw a replay. It looked nasty and Schweinsteiger could have picked up a serious injury but there didn’t appear to be any intent. He seemed to stumble into the challenge.
Great one-touch play by the Germans. Lahm gets forward, pulls it back to the edge of the box where Klose’s step-over gave Muller the chance. The Bayern Munich youngster could only lift it over the top.
The Aussies have been much better since the start of the second half. Good play in midfield, Brett Holman forced an opening for himself but his left foot drive skidded a couple of yards wide.
Big, big penalty shout by Australia. The ball hit Per Mertesacker’s hand and he looked as guilty as a paedophile in a playground. Nothing given, though.
Back on again. Australia make one change. Brett Holman on for Grella.
He’s also scored seven World Cup finals headers – more than any other player in history. Not bad for a skinny little Pole.
Some Klose stats. He’s actually alongside Klinsmann and Kocsis on 11 goals. They are the K-Klan.
Only Original Ronaldo (15), Gerd Muller (14), Juste Fontaine (13) and Pele (12) are ahead of him.
There’s a lot of studio love going on. Billo and Eamo are fawning over Didio. Liamo doesn’t fawn over anybody.
Half-time. Germany have looked very good but it’s important to stress how shoddy Australia are. The Shodderoos.
Nice bit of foot-in-mouth guff from Stephen Alkin in the RTE commentary box. Chatting about the holders’ game against Paraguay tomorrow night, he says, “Remember who Italy beat in the final? They’re playing here tonight.”
France? I’m watching France? To be fair to him, he ticked himself off a few seconds later. Still, Rule 1 of making smug little jokes: Get Your Facts Right.
When I said Josh Valentine earlier, I meant Josh Kennedy. Josh Valentine is an Australian rugby player. I forgive me.
More good work from Germany. Thomas Muller skins a sluggish Socceroo down the right wing but his cross is deflected out for a corner.
Okay, maybe not. I have to amuse myself. None of ye guys are doing much.
See?
So close to a third. Klose and Osil combine brilliantly, the youngster – who has been really, really good – dinks it over Schwarzer but Neill clears it off the line. Germany are cutting loose here.
Klose knows how to score in these things. That goal takes him into joint-fifth place in the all-time World Cup scorers’ charts, alongside Hungary’s Sander Kocsis and fellow German Jurgen Klinsmann.
GOAL GERMANY!
Lahm’s cross, Klose gets in between Lucas Neill and Mark Schwarzer to head his 11th World Cup goal. Good header, but the Socceroos are shocking at the back.
Great move by Germany. Can’t believe it’s not 2-0. Ozil picked out a brilliant pass to Podolski, who found Klose in the centre of the box. All he had to do was keep it on the target, but he failed.
No connection at all, it turns out. While Rene Adler is German, Grace Adler is fictional. Back to the action, both sides having a go. Muller’s cross was begging to be finished off by someone. But it wasn’t.
The full name of Grace, out of Will and Grace, is Grace Adler. Germany’s first-choice goalkeeper, injured tonight, is Rene Adler. Interesting. Maybe there is a connection. I’ll delve deeper.
Quick shot of Jogi Loew celebrating Podolski’s goal. Well dodgy. Like something out of Will And Grace. Will, to be precise.
Looks like my voodoo is working on Mesut Ozil too. A blatant dive gets a deserved yellow card. I haven’t seen every minute of this World Cup, but I’ve seen most of it and I can’t remember a bad decision by the officials.
GOAL GERMANY!
Thomas Muller pulls it back from near the end-line. It misses Klose in the middle but Lukas Podolski’s hammer of a left foot blasts it past Mark Schwarzer. Great start for the Germans.
Scott Chipperfield produced a touch that belonged in a circus to gift a chance to Miroslav Klose. Mark Schwarzer got the block on it.
It’s seen as a major surprise that Garcia is involved, by the way. He was preferred to Josh Valentine and Harry Kewell, who are both on the bench
Great early chance for Australia.
Cahill gets his head on a corner but it hits his own man (Lucas Neill). The ball fell to Richard Garcia but a combination of Philipp Lahm and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer blocked the Hull City man.
Pitch looks a bit hairy. Either that or the high-definition TV is picking up more than I’m used to.
And we’re off. Germany in white, Australia in black. Only for the referee’s shirt and Jason Culina’s boots – both canary yellow – I’d think there was something wrong with the telly.
Stadium packed to capacity, I’m told. That’s 63,000 or so. Makes for a great atmosphere, and Advance Australia Fair has just been belted out. Best rendition of an anthem so far this tournament.
Actually, I’m not worried about the other 10 Aussie players. Schwarzer in goal is good. He’ll need to be.
Didi Hamann is an interesting presence in the RTE studio. His German-Scouse accent is something to savour.
Mesut Ozil is the player I picked out as one to watch for the tournament. Hopefully he doesn’t let me down as much as Graham Canty did earlier today.
“Cahill is a wonderful player, a tough bugger,” says Eamo Dunphy.
Agreed. It’s the other 10 I’m worried about.
Teams are in:
Germany: Neuer, Lahm, Mertesacker, Friedrich, Badstuber, Schweinsteiger, Ozil, Khedira, Muller, Podolski, Klose, Muller.
Australia: Schwarzer, Wilkshire, Neill, Moore, Chipperfield, Emerton, Valeri, Grella, Culina, Garcia, Cahill.
