I Don't Want to Say "I Told You So," But...

I told you so. Germany to win, five goals scored? I could have sworn I said that somewhere before the game. Yes, it's unrepentant bragging, but I'll take it where I can get it. On to the match!


Uruguay vs Germany

Before the game even started, the first thing that struck me was how many changes there were for Germany. I know that Miroslav Klose was hurt after the semifinal match so it wasn't terribly surprising to see him out of the lineup. But it was a bit of a shock that Manuel Neuer, Lukas Podolski, and Philipp Lahm were also out as well. This didn't seem to bother Germany that much as they started the early part of the match in control and Uruguay couldn't really get any good possession. That changed in around the 7th minute when Diego Forlan took two successive free kicks and almost put the second one in the back of the net. It was a difficult shot from just outside the 18 and he did well to get it up and over the wall, but it went just wide and perhaps just a little high. After that, Uruguay seemed to play better and keep the match more even, but Germany still put chances on goal and just missed the opening tally when a corner kick to the back post found Arne Friedrich, who put his header off the crossbar. Germany would still open the scoring in the 19th when Bastian Schweinsteiger put a curling shot on goal from distance that keeper Fernando Muslera misjudged and couldn't do anything to but swat it away. Thomas Muller made the smart run into the box and passed the ball into the back of the net to open the scoring, bringing him level with Wesley Sneijder and David Villa in the race for the Golden Boot.

Uruguay fought back after this though, showing the never say die attitude that they've had throughout the tournament. Germany either got complacent or were simply outplayed as Uruguay held possession and looked the more dangerous side. Things went their way in the 28th when Diego Perez tackled the ball away from Schweinsteiger and put a quick ball ahead to Luis Suarez. Suarez played a perfectly waited ball to Edinson Cavani who took one touch and then finished past backup keeper Hans-Jorg Butt inside the back post. Uruguay continued the pressure and took advantage of numerous German turnovers to keep the pressure on pushing forward. The half ended with Germany looked a little lost and that continued into the second half. In the 48th minue, Cavani was played through well, but Butt came out to smother his attempt. Cavani still controlled the rebound too and played the ball back to Suarez who took a shot that Butt parried away but probably would have gone wide anyway. Suarez looked very unsure of himself this match and generally seemed to be both too tentative and too stubborn on his pushes forward. His attacking partner Forlan had none of those nerves however and put the Uruguayans ahead with a beautiful strike in the 51st minute. Egidio Arevalo hit a cross in from the right side and Forlan side-volleyed the ball into the back of the net after a bounce, leaving Butt with no chance for a save. Brilliant, brilliant goal from perhaps the best player in the entire tournament.

Germany showed their characteristic resolve though and leveled the match just minutes later against the run of play, which Uruguay was still dominating. Jerome Boateng played a fantastic out-swinging long cross in from the right and new starter Marcell Jansen headed the ball into the back of the net between two defenders and a panicked Muslera. All of a sudden the game was much more open and much more even with chances coming from each side. Suarez created space in the 62nd minute and unleashed a nice swerving shot that Butt went airborne to get his body behind and punched it away. Butt was active again in the 65th when he closed down Forlan well on the left corner of the six to smother the prolific striker's attempt. It was Cacau's turn in the 71st, but he put his chance from the left corner of the penalty area over and wide. In the 76th, substitute Stefan Kiebling (no proper English translation seems to be available) turned away from his defender smoothly but hit his strike directly at Muslera. With all of these hectic chances and back and forth play, it makes sense that the winning goal came on a scramble in the box. A corner kick wasn't cleared well and instead popped up in front of Sami Khedira, who smartly floated his header over an outstretch Muslera and into the right corner of the net. Uruguay of course pressed hard to get the equalizer and the last play of the game came down to a free kick from about twenty-two yards from net. Forlan stepped up to the spot and provided more of his magic, but it was just not quite enough. His brilliant dipping free kick made it over the diving Butt's hand, but clanged off the crossbar to give the Germans third place in the 2010 World Cup.

Germany 3 - 2 Uruguay


This game was everything you could want a third place game to be: two eliminated teams going for everything and playing loose to try to salvage something out of their tough semifinal losses. In the end, Germany was the better team and put on a display that maybe would have been put to better use against the Spaniards in the semis. Regardless of the "could have, should ofs," this was a fantastic match that served as an excellent appetizer to what will hopefully be a classic contest tomorrow. With all of the excellent soccer that has been played to this point in a World Cup for the ages, a dramatic finale would be the fitting end. It's up to Spain and Holland now to make that happen.