Germany takes third place beating Uruguay 3-2

Germany defeated Uruguay in a rainy, yet entertaining third place match at the 2010 World Cup Saturday.  It was a match we all expected as both teams were committed to the attack despite a poor playing field and bad conditions.  The young Germans took the field with several changes from the squad that fell to Spain in the semifinals last week.  No Klose, Lahm or Podolski, but young star in the making Thomas Muller returned from suspension. 

Uruguay, meanwhile, fielded a full strength squad intent on taking third place.  Yet it was Germany who would strike first on the day when Thomas Muller notched his fifth goal of the World Cup when he slotted home the rebound from a long range shot off the foot of Schweinsteiger.  Uruguay would answer though and send the match to halftime all level at one apiece.  Edinson Cavani got behind the German defense after a Schweinsteiger turnover and poked the ball past keeper Hans Butt for the goal.

The second half was even more wide open than the first as conditions worsened on the field.  Uruguay snatched the lead just minutes after the restart on a wonderful volley from the class Diego Forlan.  Definitely one of the top players of the 2010 World Cup, Forlan stepped into a cross and sidevolleyed off the wet turf and into the net.

Germany would not allow the South Americans the lead for long though as they struck right back.  Defender Marcell Jansen headed home to make it 2-2 only 5 minutes after the Forlan volley.  The match would flow back and forth as both teams searched for the winner, but it was Germany that would find it only minutes from the end.

Fittingly enough it was a corner kick that would lead to the goal.  The ball was swerved into the six yard box where it deflected around before coming to the head of Sami Khedira whose header was perfectly placed into the side netting.  It would mark the second straight World Cup where Germany has finished third and with such a young squad look out for Germany in 2014 when the Cup is staged in Brazil.