It is not often you would bet World Cup 2010 money on Germany to miss a penalty at in a major competition, but this is exactly what they did on Friday.

Joachim Low's men were struggling against Serbia - 1-0 down and down to 10 men - and were given a 'get out of jail' card by Nemanja Vidic. The Manchester United stopper inexplicably handled in the box to hand Germany a second-half penalty.

It looked a forgone conclusion for the usually-ruthless Germans, but Lukas Podolski stepped up and fired at the keeper. So Milan Jovanovic's goal was enough for Serbia to win 1-0 and bounce back from their opening defeat to Ghana and it proved to be Germany's first group game defeat at the World Cup since they lost 2-0 to Denmark in 1986.

Germany were reduced to 10 men in the first half after Miroslav Klose was controversially sent-off for an innocuous-looking challenge. It certainly rocked Joachim Low's men, who looked so good in their 4-0 win against 10-man Australia in their first game, and they looked vulnerable. They are still favourites to win Group D with a final game against Australia looming, but they have been eased in the outright world cup 2010 prices market to 7/1.

There had been a flurry of support for Low's men after Spain's 1-0 defeat to Switzerland, meaning Spain could meet Brazil in the round of 16, but they are now easy to back again after their failings on Friday.

Argentina are the new 7/2 favourites after keeping up their 100 per cent record in Thursday's 4-1 demolition of South Korea.

Didier Drogba seems to be dogged by controversy - no matter where he goes or what he does some kind of fuss seems to follow in his wake from football betting pundits, fans and fellow players.

Ivory Coast's opening game in the World Cup has proved to be no different, with the decision to allow Drogba to play at all attracting criticism.

The Chelsea striker broke his arm during a warm up game against Japan and at first it seems likely he would miss some, if not all, of the tournament. Those who had placed a World Cup free bet on Ivory Coast were panicking that's for sure.

However, a successful operation later, Drogba was ready to play some part in his side's first match against Portugal, albeit while wearing a protective cast and it is this that has kicked up a fuss.

Although he didn't come on until the 65th minute and was unable to break the deadlock in a turgid came that finished 0-0, Carlos Queiroz, the Portugal manager, still queried the striker's inclusion.

The cast was inspected by the referee, who decided that it was permissible and did not pose a danger to the other players, but Queiroz was left puzzled by the decision.