2010 World Cup third-place play-off preview: Germany v Uruguay
Paul the octopus has a lot to answer for. The two-year old psychic cephalopod has become the unlikely star of the 2010 World Cup after correctly predicting the winner of Germany’s six matches this summer – including Spain to win the semi-final. The traitor.
Joachim Löw’s side did not want this. The World Cup third-place play-off is a match no-one really wants to be involved in – perhaps with the exception of those still in contention for the Golden Boot – and will probably be contested in front of a half-empty stadium.
However, despite it obviously being an anti-climatic occasion for the Germans in particular, their opponents Uruguay will be keen to end their memorable World Cup campaign with a third-place finish.
And as for Germany, well, when have they ever just given up and conceded defeat?
The World Cup’s penultimate match may be light years away from the glamour of the showpiece final, but finishing with bronze is nothing to be ashamed of. These two nations have done their supporters proud over the last four weeks and will have one last chance to put on a show before the curtains fall.
Meanwhile, Germany’s Miroslav Klose and Uruguay’s Diego Forlán are both still vying for the coveted top scorer accolade, and Klose needs just two more goals to become the World Cup’s most prolific striker. For this reason alone, it’ll be worth tuning in for. History could well be made at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday night.
Although Klose is rated as a doubt for the match because of a back injury, you can be assured that if there’s the slightest chance of him being able to play, he’ll be on that pitch in Port Elizabeth.
The same is true for Forlan, who is suffering with a minor thigh injury. Currently tied on the same number of goals as Klose – four – the Atlético Madrid striker has been one of the stars of this year’s tournament. The Uruguay captain inspired his side to the semi-finals with a series of influential performances for the South American nation and is desperate to be fit for what could be his final World Cup match.
If Forlán has been Uruguay’s saint at this summer’s finals, then the controversial, tarnished figure of Luis Suárez has certainly been their sinner. Many Africans have voiced their anger that he’s still in South Africa at all after that infamous handball against Ghana in the quarter-finals. The 23-year-old striker is available to play in this match, though, and all accusing eyes will be firmly focused on him.
With the population in Uruguay at a modest 3.5million, reaching this stage of the World Cup has been a tremendous achievement for Óscar Tabárez’s side. Regardless of whether or not they win Saturday night’s match, they will return to Montevideo next week to a heroes’ welcome, while Germany will regard this World Cup as satisfactory rather than successful.
The Germans expect to reach the semi-finals at every major tournament and haven’t disappointed this time around. Their exciting, counter-attacking football has made them arguably the most thrilling outfit to watch in South Africa, but there will be an everlasting feeling of ‘what if...’ for Löw and his squad.
Good news for Germany ahead of this match, though. Paul the octopus has predicted a Germany victory this weekend – possibly in a bid to save himself from ending up on a dinner plate at a Hamburg restaurant.
Tabárez and his players would be advised to avoid any octopus-related headlines over the next 24 hours.
The Uruguay manager proclaimed that his players will “fight to the death” to finish the World Cup in third place. They will come into Saturday’s match full of confidence that they can end this year’s tournament as the surprise package – if they haven’t already done so.
But despite Uruguay’s unquestionable heart, the German’s youthful squad, who have really shone over recent weeks, will be regarded as strong favourites and rightly so.
And who are we to argue with mystic Paul?
Prediction: Germany 3 Uruguay 1
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