SB Nation World Cup 2010 - Third-Place Match
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Sami Khedira's first goal for Germany has given his team a 3-2 lead in the 81st minute against Uruguay.
A Mesut Özil corner kick played to the middle of the six yard box hit the ground unplayed, and when Uruguayan captain Diego Lugano was unable to clear the call after some chaotic play, Khedira headed a shot over goalkeeper Fernando Muslera and into the right side of the net for the goal-ahead goal.
Germany now holds a 3-2 lead in the match's 86th minute.
Jerome Boateng's cross from the right flank to the far post was only five yards off the goal line, service that should have been manageable for Uruguayan goalkeeper Fernando Muslera. The `keeper, however, was late off his line, collided with right back Jorge Fucile, and gave left wing Marcell Jansen an easy, equalizing goal.
Jansen, making his first start of the tournament, was ready to challenge for the cross, having made his far post run. His challenge was simplified when Muslera came off his line and collided with Fucile. As both Uruguayans fell to the ground, the cross came to Jansen's head, who easily redirected the ball into an unprotected net.
Now in the 61st minute, the match is tied, 2-2.
Diego Forlan's half-volley from 17 yards out bounced over-and-around Hand-Jörg Butt and into the German net, giving Uruguay a 2-1 lead in the 51st minute.
For Forlán, it is his fifth goal in seven World Cup 2010 matches, moving him even with Thomas Müller, David Villa and Wesley Sneijder for the tournament lead.
Forlan's opportunity came after build-up play down Uruguay's right flank led to his opportunity at the edge of the penalty area, toward the right side of goal. Forlan had to bring his right foot high onto the ball to get on top of his shot. He did, driving the ball into the ground, a shot that bounce high and to the left of Butt, giving Uruguay their first lead of the match.
Germany and Uruguay have gone into halftime drawn 1-1 in Port Elizabeth, the two nations contesting third-place at the 2010 World Cup.
Germany opened the scoring in the 18th minute through Thomas Müller, who capitalized off the rebound of a Bastian Schweinsteiger shot to beat Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, the ring wing's fifth goal tying him for the tournament's high mark while putting the Germans in the lead.
Uruguay equalized near the half-hour mark when midfielder Diego Perez forced a turnover in midfield and quickly transitioned that into a counterattack. Luis Suárez carried the ball into the final third before laying-off to the left for Edinson Cavani, who toe-poked his shot past an oncoming Hans-Jörg Butt for the tying goal.
Over an open first half, the two teams have nearly split possession, with Germany putting three shots on goal to Uruguay's one.
Dennis Aogo and Cacau have picked-up yellow cards for Germany.
Uruguay midfielder Diego Perez's dispossession of German counterpart Bastian Schweinsteiger started Uruguay on a break, leading to Edinson Cavani's tying goal in the 28th minute, making it 1-1 in the World Cup's third-place match.
Perez's sliding tackle took the ball from Schweinsteiger at mid-field. The Uruguayan was able to move the ball forward to Luis Suárez, creating a counterattack opportunity for La Celeste that ended with Edinson Cavani poking the ball past Hans-Jörg Butt from nine yards out to, drawing Uruguay event.
The match, now in the 32nd minute, remains drawn, 1-1.
Germany went up 1-0 in the 19th minute after Thomas Müller scored off the rebound of a Bastian Schweinsteiger shot.
The goal was Müller's fifth of the tournament, tying him for the competition's high mark.
Schweinsteiger took a shot from 40 yards out that gave Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera trouble. The `keeper coughed-up a rebound that Müller, moving toward goal as the Uruguayan line was pushing-up, easily got to before any defenders, for a simple finish.
The match, now in the 23rd minute, stills sees Germany leading 1-0.
Óscar Tábarez has put-out a full team for today's third place match, marking the returns of the suspended Jorge Fucile and Luis Suárez and the renewed health of center half Diego Lugano.
Uruguay Starting XI
G - Fernando Muslera
LB - Martin Cáceras
LCB - Diego Godín
RCM - Diego Lugano
RB - Jorge Fucile
LM - Egidio Arévalo
CM - Diego Pérez
RM - Maxi Pereira
SS - Diego Forlán
F - Edinson Cavani
F - Luis Suárez
Germany has made a number of changes to their lineup for today's third-place match, with Hans-Jörg Butt and Dennis Aogo set to see their first action of the tournament.
Those starts move Manuel Neuer and Philipp Lahm to the bench, where they'll be joined by starters Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose. Their replacements will be Marcell Jansen and Cacau.
Klose, who is one goal short of the all-time records for goals in a World Cup, looks set to sit-out the match.
Thomas Müller, who missed the semifinal while serving a suspension, returns to the starting lineup.
Germany Starting XI
G - Hans-Jüorg Butt
LB - Dennis Aogo
LCB - Arne Friedrich
RCB - Per Mertsesacker
RB - Jerome Boateng
LM - Sami Khedira
RM - Bastian Schweinsteiger
LW - Marcell Jansen
AM - Mesut Özil
RW - Thomas Müller
F - Cacau
If the history of the World Cup’s third place match didn’t motive you to tune in at 2:30 p.m. Eastern (ABC), perhaps we should focus on the present, where a number of story lines threaten to make Saturday’s match one of the most memorable in the history of the consolation game.
One player has a chance to go down as the tournament’s all-time leading scorer, while another can continue to make his case as this summer’s best player. A number of players will be making their last audition for the tournament’s All-Star team at the same time Germany is giving the world a further glimpse of what’s in store for 2014. We could see the return of a villain and a hero, both the same person, along with the last World Cup appearances of two of this competition’s best strikers.
If none of that’s movie, there will remain one, very basic reason to watch.
1. Miroslav Klose Goes For World Cup History: German striker Miroslav Klose has fourteen career goals in World Cup play, tying him with legend Gerd Müller for the German record, putting him one short of Brazil’s Ronaldo for the tournament mark. Still, it is unclear whether Klose will play, the modest striker and the German team possibly ambivalent toward the mark.
2. Quest For The Golden Ball: David Villa and Wesley Sneijder are considered the leading candidates for the award given to the tournament’s best player (and one of those things is not like the other, in this year’s tournament), but Diego Forlán has been the finals’ best player. If he has an exceptionally strong match on Saturday, he could force the award into his hands, should neither Villa nor Sneijder shine in Johannesburg.
3. Last Audition: We hope Forlán is already on the 23-man All-Star team, whether he plays or not. For others, this could be a day that cements that honor. Diego Pérez, Maxi Pereira, Diego Gódin and Diego Lugano have made strong tournaments for La Celeste, and while Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mesut Özil, Thomas Müller, and Manuel Neuer may have little to prove, spots could be clinched for Sami Khedira, Lukas Podolski and center back Arne Friedrich, who has had a tournament that may be falling victim to hyper-analysis of German weaknesses.
4. Young Germans Rolled-Out Like Volkswagons Off A Fließband: We’ve seen a lot of Özil, Müller, Khedira, Neuer and Jerome Boateng. We’ve seen good chunks of Holger Badstuber and Toni Kroos. But there are even more young Germans who could be impact players for Brazil 2014. Defenders Sadir Tasci and Dennis Aogo are each only 23. Winger Marko Marin, 21, is sure to be an impact, change-of-pace (at least) player in Brazil. We could see each of them today.
5. La Regresa de El Santo, El Diablo: Luis Suárez is eligible to return today. Should he? I don’t care, at this point (not that I ever did). Will he? I hope so. While I just said "Let the kids play," I’m never against seeing the best players play more often. With three goals in five games, Suárez has been one of the tournament’s better players, and at only 23, he also falls under the kid exception. Whether he’s a saint or a devil - actually, let’s just move-on.
6. Reascending Giant: Uruguay was the sport’s first true super power. They won the first two World Cups they entered, help make the Rio de la Plata estuary (for a time) the most important place on the footballing globe, and with only a population of three million people, maintained their soccer power into the 1970s. Since, they have slipped, but this year sees La Celeste reassert themselves. A win over a German team that is both a historic and modern power will allow Uruguay to rightfully carry their chins high into the 2011 Copa América.
7. Last Cup Performances: For a number of players, this is likely their last World Cup match. Miroslav Klose is 32, and Arne Friedrich is 31. They’re unlikely to factor into German’s 2014 plans. El Loco Abreu is 33, Andrés Scotti is 34, and one that’s snuck-up on us: Diego Forlán is 31. This may be his last appearance in on this stage.
8. It’s Soccer, And The Teams Have Five Combined Titles: And coming from opposite ends of the world, they don’t play often. Just watch already.
World Cup 2010, Germany Vs. Uruguay: Germany Wins Bronze For Second Straight World Cup
A 19-yard free kick from Diego Forlán went off the crossbar, just above the left post, with the last action of the third-place match, leaving Germany with their second successive World Cup third place finish, defeating Uruguay 3-2 on Saturday.
Forlán's direct kick was given in the 93rd minute after a foul by defender Arne Friedrich. The resulting left-footed attempt would have given the Uruguayan his sixth goal of the tournament and put him into the lead for the Golden Foot, but it ended-up being the last act in Uruguay's fourth-place finish.
Germany wins thanks to Sami Khedira's 81st minute header, putting home a corner kick from Mesut Özil after Uruguay captain Diego Lugano had failed to clear a ball. Khedira put his header over `keeper Fernando Muslera, into the far side of the net, for Germany's third goal.
Germany had also gotten goals from Thomas Müller (his fifth of the tournament) and Marcell Jansen, both from goalkeeping mistakes by Muslera. Müller, returning from a one match suspension, put home the rebound of a Bastian Schweinsteiger shot in the 18th minute, giving Germany the lead. Jansen's goal evened the match at two in the second half when Muslera collided with right back Jorge Fucile while trying to play a Jerome Boateng cross, gifting Jansen an easy goal.
Uruguay equalized Thomas Müller's goal through Edinson Cavani, who was set-up by Luis Suárez, before taking an early second half lead through Forlán, whose volley of a Egidio Arévalo Rios cross skipped off the ground and in, high to the right of Hans-Jörg Butt.
It would not be enough, however, as Khedira's goal keeps Germany in the top three for the second straight tournament, Uruguay posting their best finish since 1970.
Jul 10 4:39p by Richard Farley - 0 comments