Defeat to Australia saw Branislav Ivanovic and Serbia knocked out of the World Cup on Wednesday night, as Germany and Ghana went through.
Serbia were well-fancied against the Australians but wasted a host of first-half chances and then fell two behind, while Germany were 1-0 winners over Ghana, the Africans progressing thanks to their superior goal difference to Australia.
Ivanovic played the full 90 minutes for the Serbs, and almost scored, only to see his shot brilliantly saved (pictured above) before Australia took control and ended the Chelsea man's World Cup dream.
Ghana went into the final round of games top of Group D, and required only a point against the Germans to secure their passage into the last 16. Germany needed to win to guarantee their qualification, but could go through with a draw if the Serbs did not beat Australia.
For Ivanovic and Serbia it was simple, win and you're through, and they started the better side against the Australians, who themselves were not yet eliminated but would need Ghana to beat the Germans to progress.
Inside the opening minutes Milos Krasic could and then should have given his side the lead, first shooting straight at Aussie 'keeper Mark Schwarzer, and then rounding him but shooting over from a tight angle.
Germany were almost gifted the lead at Soccer City when John Mensah diverted the ball towards his own goal, Ghana goalkeeper Richard Kingson forced into a tremendous save to keep it out.
After 20 minutes in Nelspruit, Chelsea man Ivanovic made a key interception at the far post, out-jumping Josh Kennedy after mark Bresciano had delivered a deep cross from the Australian right.
Two minutes later he could have given his side the lead, ghosting into the area and firing a bouncing ball hard across Schwarzer, who outstretched his arm and made the type of excellent save fans of his Premier League club Fulham have grown used to seeing.
Sami Khedira should have scored for Germany but was denied by Ghanaian stopper Kingson, and then Nikola Zigic headed wide for the Serbs after Ivanovic had supplied a killer cross.
Krasic had an effort disallowed for offside and Kingson pushed a Bastian Schweinsteiger free-kick away, so both games went in goalless at half-time. If it stayed that way, Ivanovic would head home.
Jason Culina fired just wide and then Mark Bresciano had a free-kick tipped wide as Australia started the second period brightly in Nelspruit, and then came news of a German goal from Soccer City.
It came from Mesut Ozil, one of the bright young things of this tournament, who sent a dipping left-footed shot into the Ghanaian net.
Now Serbia definitely needed a goal, but they were on the back foot and twice Ivanovic saved them, first hooking clear as the ball bounced in a busy penalty area, and then when he beat Tim Cahill to a loose ball after goalkeeper Dragan Stojkovic had let the ball out of his grasp. First class from the Double-winning defender.
Ivanovic couldn't save them a third time though, and when Cahill out-jumped Nemanja Vidic and headed goalwards, there was only one outcome, and Serbia had a mountain to climb.
That mountain grew just minutes later as sub Brett Holman fired in from distance to double the Australian lead, and suddenly the Socceroos had a chance to go through.
They still needed two more goals though, either for themselves or the Germans, to level the goal difference with Ghana, but when Marko Pantelic pulled one back for Serbia their dream must have died.
The forward had the ball in the net again, but the flag went up, and when the same player sent an easy chance a yard over from just six yards out, the game was up. It is a desperately disappointing end to the season for one of Chelsea's most improved men.
Serbia were well-fancied against the Australians but wasted a host of first-half chances and then fell two behind, while Germany were 1-0 winners over Ghana, the Africans progressing thanks to their superior goal difference to Australia.
Ivanovic played the full 90 minutes for the Serbs, and almost scored, only to see his shot brilliantly saved (pictured above) before Australia took control and ended the Chelsea man's World Cup dream.
Ghana went into the final round of games top of Group D, and required only a point against the Germans to secure their passage into the last 16. Germany needed to win to guarantee their qualification, but could go through with a draw if the Serbs did not beat Australia.
For Ivanovic and Serbia it was simple, win and you're through, and they started the better side against the Australians, who themselves were not yet eliminated but would need Ghana to beat the Germans to progress.
Inside the opening minutes Milos Krasic could and then should have given his side the lead, first shooting straight at Aussie 'keeper Mark Schwarzer, and then rounding him but shooting over from a tight angle.
Germany were almost gifted the lead at Soccer City when John Mensah diverted the ball towards his own goal, Ghana goalkeeper Richard Kingson forced into a tremendous save to keep it out.
After 20 minutes in Nelspruit, Chelsea man Ivanovic made a key interception at the far post, out-jumping Josh Kennedy after mark Bresciano had delivered a deep cross from the Australian right.
Two minutes later he could have given his side the lead, ghosting into the area and firing a bouncing ball hard across Schwarzer, who outstretched his arm and made the type of excellent save fans of his Premier League club Fulham have grown used to seeing.
Sami Khedira should have scored for Germany but was denied by Ghanaian stopper Kingson, and then Nikola Zigic headed wide for the Serbs after Ivanovic had supplied a killer cross.
Krasic had an effort disallowed for offside and Kingson pushed a Bastian Schweinsteiger free-kick away, so both games went in goalless at half-time. If it stayed that way, Ivanovic would head home.
Jason Culina fired just wide and then Mark Bresciano had a free-kick tipped wide as Australia started the second period brightly in Nelspruit, and then came news of a German goal from Soccer City.
It came from Mesut Ozil, one of the bright young things of this tournament, who sent a dipping left-footed shot into the Ghanaian net.
Now Serbia definitely needed a goal, but they were on the back foot and twice Ivanovic saved them, first hooking clear as the ball bounced in a busy penalty area, and then when he beat Tim Cahill to a loose ball after goalkeeper Dragan Stojkovic had let the ball out of his grasp. First class from the Double-winning defender.
Ivanovic couldn't save them a third time though, and when Cahill out-jumped Nemanja Vidic and headed goalwards, there was only one outcome, and Serbia had a mountain to climb.
That mountain grew just minutes later as sub Brett Holman fired in from distance to double the Australian lead, and suddenly the Socceroos had a chance to go through.
They still needed two more goals though, either for themselves or the Germans, to level the goal difference with Ghana, but when Marko Pantelic pulled one back for Serbia their dream must have died.
The forward had the ball in the net again, but the flag went up, and when the same player sent an easy chance a yard over from just six yards out, the game was up. It is a desperately disappointing end to the season for one of Chelsea's most improved men.
Germany will now face England, and Ghana will play USA in the second round matches this weekend.
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