World Cup 2010: the best images of day eight

Following their victory against Algeria last Saturday, the Slovenian fans are in a positive mood as they practise their synchronised letter holding outside of the Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg
Photograph: Hussein Malla/AP

In direct contrast to their poor performance in the previous match, Slovenia start brightly and create a number of chances in the first 10 minutes and they do well to contain US danger-man Clint Dempsey
Photograph: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

In the 13th minute, Slovenia's start goes from bright to shining as Valter Birsa scores a corker from 25 yards out. He receives the ball, spins to face the goal and strokes a perfectly flighted curler past Tim Howard, who doesn't even move. The Slovenia players celebrate with a bizarre camp jig, which the BBC commentary team describe as 'twinkle twinkle little star movements with their hands'!
Photograph: Ryan Pierse/FIFA via Getty Images

The USA gradually increase their possession and create more chances. Five minutes before half time they are denied an equaliser by some fantastic defending by Brecko. The Americans put together a great move and Dempsey delivers a wicked low cross to the waiting Landon Donovan who surely must tap it in from two yards out. But Brecko comes out of nowhere to nick the ball off of Donovan's foot
Photograph: Jon Hrusa/EPA

As always happens in these sorts of cases, immediately after Brecko's goal saving tackle, Slovenia go down the other end and score. The Americans' defensive frailties are exposed when Novakovic passes the ball to his left and Ljubijankic beats the offside trap and then canters into the box before slotting the ball under the advancing Howard
Photograph: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

So it's no wonder that George Washington and Elton John, sorry Uncle Sam, looks so disappointed
Photograph: Rob Griffith/AP

The Americans come charging out of the gates after half-time and two minutes in, Landon Donovan puts them back into the game when he marauds into the box following a mistake by the Slovenian defence on the left. Donovan gets to the six yard line before leathering the ball into the roof of the net from a tight angle. He hit it with such power that the Slovenia goalkeeper decided to hide behind the post rather than try to save it
Photograph: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Blimey, what a turnaround. Michael Bradley puts in a lung-bursting charge from midfield to get on the end of Josy Altidore's knock down and pokes the ball over Slovenia's goalkeeper Samir Handanovic, making it 2-2
Photograph: JON HRUSA/EPA

Three minutes later the American's think they've won it when Maurice Edu bundles the ball into the net after a free-kick is whipped in from the right. However, the ref had blown before the ball reached him and the goal is disallowed. Why the referee blew is a mystery. There was a lot of pushing and shoving as the ball came in, but none of it was out of the ordinary. Maybe he just has a sensitive disposition. A frantic eight minutes follows with chances at both ends, but none are converted so it ends 2-2
Photograph: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Germany faced Serbia in the day's early kick-off. The Germans were, of course, 4-0 conquerors of Australia in the opening match. Here, Serb player Nikola Zigic accidentally butts the German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer
Photograph: Robert Ghement/EPA

Needless to say, this wasn't the only booking Miroslav Klose received this afternoon
Photograph: Robert Ghement/EPA

His second, for a challenge as tame as the first, saw him dismissed by the Spanish referee Alberto Undiano
Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images

Within two minutes, Milan Jovanovic capitalises for Serbia, swiping the ball home from close range in the 35th minute to make it 1-0
Photograph: Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP

In a moment of equal majesty and stupidity, Serbia's Nemanja Vidic launches himself into the air and flaps at the ball as it arcs above him, gifting Germany a penalty
Photograph: Paul Hanna/Reuters

But Lukas Podolski scuffs his side-footed effort and the keeper, Vladimir Stojkovic, keeps it out. It's the first time Germany have missed a penalty (excluding at shoot-outs) in a World Cup match since 1974
Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty Images

Germany continue to press for an equaliser. Here, Marko Marin of Germany takes a corner
Photograph: Shaun Botterill - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

But the crossbar denies them when Holger Badstuber's strike beats the helpless Serbian defence. It finishes 1-0 to Serbia. Click here to look at all our galleries from the World Cup
Photograph: Paul Hanna/Reuters