World Cup 2010: Germany 3-2 Uruguay - Full Time
Goals from Thomas Muller, Marcell Jansen and Sami Khedira secured a fourth third place finish for the Germans at this World Cup and the second in succession, after achieving the same feat in the last tournament.
This game was always expected to be a high scoring affair and it proved to be as Germany and Uruguay played out one of the most memorable games of the tournament. The Germans had the better start of the two teams and had the ball in the back of the net as early as the 4th minute but the referee's assistant had his flag up for offside.
It was not long after that Germany went ahead as Muller, who had been denied earlier, put the ball in the back of the net in the 18th minute after Schweinsteiger's long-range shot was too hot to handle for the Uruguay Goalkeeper Fernando Muslera. The Germans deserved their lead as they had been the brighter of the two teams but the goal was also a sign of what was to come in a very exciting game.
Uruguay pulled themselves level in the 29th minute when Cavani scored after Schweinsteiger had been dispossessed in the middle of the park by the excellent Perez. Suarez put his teammate through on goal and Cavani made no mistake and the score was 1-1 at this point.
Before the referee blew his whistle for half time, Suarez had an opportunity to put his team ahead but his shot went wide when he really should have scored. The score at 1-1 was a fair reflection of the game at half time.
The second half got off to a flier as Uruguay raced ahead thanks to a wonder goal by Diego Forlan. Forlan has always had a reputation for scoring from unbelievable long-range shots and this was nothing short of world class from the South American, who moved level with David Villa and Wesley Sneijder on five goals. Arevalo sent in a wonderful cross and Forlan hit a powerful volley into the ground and past the helpless Butt, who was playing his first game of the tournament.
The game was an end to end affair at this point and it was Germany who would score next. A routine cross by Boateng in the 55th minute was nodded home by the left back Jansen; poor goalkeeping though, by Muslera, who really should have done better. With the game at 2-2, both teams had a great chance to take the third spot and had a number of good opportunities to go ahead.
It was Germany who seized the initiative and scored after a corner from Ozil was not cleared by the Uruguay defence. Sami Khedira was at hand to head the ball in the back of the net, beyond the diving Muslera and put his team ahead 3-2.
That is how it stayed until the end of the game, despite the best efforts of Diego Forlan and Co. Uruguay came very close, though, to levelling matters once more as Forlan struck the bar with the last kick of the game after Suarez was brought down just outside the box. It was just not meant to be for the Uruguayans, who have had a very good tournament. Overall though, it should be said that the Germans have looked better in the tournament and deserved the title of third place at the very least.
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