July 8: The Daily World Cup Wrap
Let’s be honest, it didn’t really matter who won today. With Klose more or less guaranteed the top scorer award, and Podolski already pocketing the young player award, the third place play-off just was very much the undercard before tomorrow’s main event.
As such, it did it’s job admirably. Both teams were more than willing to go forward (though Cristiano Ronaldo showed a familiar willingness to go down) and the home fans got one last chance to wave their flags for a team that’s been an unexpected success.
Daily Wrap Awards:
Top Man: Bastian Schweinsteiger. Closest anyone has come to a World Cup 2006 hat-trick.
Top Team: Germany.
Top Goal: Scweinsteiger’s first.
Bit of Skill: Torsten Frings making room for himself on the edge of the box.
Saw That Coming: German victory.
But Not That: Cristiano Ronaldo getting booed again. That’s three games in a row.
Germany vs Portugal | LiveBlog | Germany World Cup Gear, Portugal World Cup Gear
Germany 3 (Schweinsteiger 56, 78, Petit o.g. 60)
Portugal 1 (Gomes 88)
The first half wasn’t too exciting, and this third place play-off was in danger of lowering the historical average of four goals in this fixture. Even Michael Ballack was caught on camera letting out a nice big yawn on the German bench. Portugal weren’t as disappointing as against France. Though they didn’t quite throw caution to the wind, they did show a willingness to attack.
Cristiano Ronaldo was once more greeted by boos every time he touched the ball, and didn’t help himself by taking another dive. Seems it not just bitter England fans who disapprove of Ronaldo’s theatrical tumbles, as French and German fans have joined the chorus of derision in Portugal’s last two games. The lad’s got skills though and once again he was fearlessly determined to run at defenders, boos or not.
The goals came in the second half. Schweinsteiger cut in from the left in the 56th minute and unleashed a long range right footed shot. The ball swerved in mid-air as only an Adidas Teamgeist can, going through Ricardo’s gloves on the way to goal. Four minutes later Schweinsteiger struck a low free kick from the left, which struck Petit on the way to goal. It goes down as an own goal as it was off target before Petit’s accidental intervention.
To prove the first effort was no fluke, Schweinsteiger cut in from the left again after 78 minute and hit another right footed shot beyond Ricardo. Schweinsteiger was subbed immediately afterwards as Klinsmann gave the German fringe players a run out.
Portugal continued to attack but it was a lot of individual effort and not much in the way of team work (as opposed to Germany who quick counter attacking passing game looked deadly). Too often, the Portuguese players were content to give either Deco or Ronaldo the ball, then stand back and watch them dribble.
Luis Figo may be a former galactico, but he’s no prima dona and gamely came off the bench with 12 minutes to go. His class told ten minutes later when he found Nuno Gomes at the far post with a perfect cross. Gomes nodded home and Portugal had a consolation goal.
Germany’s impressive display was a nice goodbye to their fans, but also a reminder that the future is bright for German football.
Video highlights here.
Fan Photo:
…will appear later…
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http://www.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2006/big-question-which-current-coach-was-the-best-player.html#comments Pedro P

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