RAMPANT GERMANS DISMANTLE AUSSIES AS CAHILL SEES RED

Tim Cahill became the third player of the day to be sent off in South Africa as his Australia side fell to a crushing four-nil defeat against Germany.

Australia started brightly and created a chance to go ahead in the opening minute of the game but it wasn't long before the Germans took control.

Lukasz Podolski gave Germany the lead in just the eighth minute of the match with a thunderbolt from the edge of the area that proved too hot to handle for Fulham 'keeper Mark Schwarzer.

From then on the three time champions didn't look back, slicing open their opponents defence with ease to create a number of opportunities. The Socceroos were given a reprive when Miroslav Klose fired high and wide from ten yards out. However the Bayern Munich striker made no mistake just minutes later, darting between defender and goalkeeper to get his head to Phillip Lahm's pinpoint cross and double the lead.

Australia made all the right changes at half time in an attempt to turn the game around as they brought on a natural striker to allow Tim Cahill to drop into a deeper role. However all of Australia manager Pim Verbeek's good intentions went to waste when Cahill was harshly punished for a strong tackle on Bastian Schweinsteiger just before the hour. The Everton man was sent off by the Mexican referee who had had a faultless game up until that decision.

It was effectively game over as Australia's talisman left the pitch, and it could be tournament over for the boys from down under with Cahill forced to sit out their next game. True to form the efficent Germans remained ruthless as first Thomas Mueller, and then Brazilian born substitue Cacau compounded the Aussies misery by making it four-nil with over twenty minutes left.

With the game well and truly over the Aussies showed real spirit to battle on and almost salvaged some pride when substitue Nikita Rukavytsya forced the German 'keeper into a decent save, but it will take real determination for the Aussies to find a way through the group stages after such a bruising defeat.