Durban, Jun 14 (DPA): Australia striker Tim Cahill wept profusely after being sent off in his team's World Cup football opener against Germany.

"It's probably one of the saddest moments of my footballing career," he told reporters in Durban after the match late Sunday. "It just shows you how dreams can be made and crushed in the space of hours."

In the 56th minute of the Group D game, Mexican referee Marco Antonio Rodriguez showed Cahill a straight red card. The Aussie was shocked by the decision, because he fell and then crashed onto German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger in the process.

Schweinsteiger told the referee that Cahill did not deserve to be sent off, but there was no turning back.

"It was not a red card, sorry," the German again told his colleague after the match.

And Cahill could appreciate that despite his sadness.

"To hear Schweinsteiger say that, it's very nice of him," the tearful player said. "But this is the beauty of football: One day you're the hero, the next day you're at the bottom."

Germany were already winning by 2-0 when Cahill left the pitch. Australia will miss the Everton striker in their next match - Saturday against Ghana.