The Third Place Match Myth
I’ve heard it a number of times. I mention the World Cup Third Place match and someone inevitably responds that it can be the most exciting match of the whole tournament. It stands to reason that with both teams eliminated from capturing the ultimate prize that they are more apt to play free flowing football that leads to lots of highlights and lots of goals.
But has this really been the case?
Just like the World Cup finals over the years, the Third Place games have been a mixed bag. Some have been great to watch. Others have been dull affairs that are more akin to a trip to the dentist’s office. Even a good Third Place match is harder to remember than a bad World Cup final.
As for the notion that the Third Place match sees more scoring, this isn’t all that true. Over the course of 15 official Third Place games, there have been a total of 61 goals scored. In those same years, 58 goals have been scored in the final, a negligible difference.
All of this isn’t to say that Germany and Portugal won’t put on a thrilling match on Saturday. They very well could and I know that I will be tuning in regardless of whether it is the best match of the tournament or not. It is not ever day that you get to see Oliver Kahn play for Germany, at least some place other than in your nightmares.
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Comments
By nicko | July 8th, 2006 at 2:14 am 
I was a bit surprised at this so I took a quick look at the last 4 world cups (ie. Italia 90 onwards)
In every one the no. of goals in the 3rd place game has been greater than or equal to the no. in the final, and across 4 world cups, there have been 6 goals in the final and 15 goals in the 3rd place game.
So it may be that its just a recent phenomenon.
personally I don’t think its a particularly good guide to the 3rd best team
Posted from 
Australia
By enzo | July 8th, 2006 at 2:30 am I don’t see any point in having such a game between the losing semi-finalists. I have never seen a 3rd place playoff exciting. The players appear disinterested and who can blame them when the next day is followed by a game that everyone is interested. It’s only purpose is further revenue for FIFA as far as I am concerned. Who cares who is third in the WC, I certainly haven’t. And I’ll bet very few football supporters, if it wasn’t their team, will remember 3rd place winners. Only first counts and only first gets the title.
Posted from Australia
By Mystique | July 8th, 2006 at 3:18 am so true, enzo, so true
Posted from 
United States
By Tomas Blink | July 8th, 2006 at 3:26 am Well I think 3 place is important just like in any sports you have Gold,Silver and Bronz medalists and football is the same.
Posted from United States
By Affin | July 8th, 2006 at 3:44 am For me it’s a match not worth watching.
The only prize is to win the World Cup. If you already know you’re not in the running to win it because you’re not in the final, what’s the point of playing this last match?
The outcome - whether you win it or not - has no real impact on the fans.
It’s no real consolation.
Posted from 
Malaysia
By Icarmo | July 8th, 2006 at 4:01 am Affin, what consolation are you speaking…please! The match for the 3 rd. place, have a special flavor to the Portuguese fans. Because, we aren´t in the final,cause some reasons! Is better a 3rd. place that a 4th. place..is very different the meaning.
Força Selecção Nacional
Deco give us a Goal ..
Posted from 
Portugal
By Tomas Blink | July 8th, 2006 at 4:14 am People who say 3 and 4 place don’t matter are wrong in my opinion.
What are you rather take Bronz Medal or nothing?
ALL SPORTS HAVE 1st 2nd 3ed Places and Medals. Gold,Silver,Bronz and mini Bronz for 4th place.
It’s a Medal which is important to any player and a fan.
Better a Medal even if it’s Bronz one then no medal at all.
Posted from United States
By nicko | July 8th, 2006 at 4:26 am actually there’s a fundamental flaw in the logic, the semifinalists aren’t neccessarily the 3rd and 4th best teams in the tournament (eg. Brazil might really be the 3rd best team, but got an unlucky encounter with france early on).
Also since usually one or both teams don’t take it seriously most fans don’t recognise the game.
in Tennis for example, there is no 3rd place playoff in tournaments.
Posted from Australia
By Stefan | July 8th, 2006 at 4:59 am Most sporting events don’t have a third place game but I guess FIFA wants an extra game. Even if the TV audience is low the stadium will be a sellout and a third place game is extra revenue. Its unique because this type of game matters to some and not others. I know the German and Portugal fans really have a big interest but I can’t speak for all the players.
For example Jens Layman (being an American hope I spelled that right) does not mind being on the bench for this one and letting Oliver Kahn get the start in goal. I see that as a good gesture as he was orginally to be the starting keeper but then things changed. I hope he does well as this will surely be his last time playing in a world cup.
Third place games are also unique because they will not be remembered forever like the final. This means the players can play differently. Sure you want to win but maybe you try harder to score not worrying if you conceed a goal on the counter attack. Harder tackling too as who cares if your red carded in a third place game. The dynamics of a third place game be not be replicated by any other game so I hope FIFA decides to keep it for future World Cups.
Posted from 
Germany
By Affin | July 8th, 2006 at 6:30 am Icarmo,
I do hope your team wins because you play more beautiful football than the Germans.
The Germans have might and strength but there’s no flair.
Having said that, yes, I still think there isn’t much to motivate players for third place.
But that remains just my opinion. From a Brazil fan’s perspective, there’s only winning the Cup. Everything else is failure.
But, as I said, that’s only 1 man’s opinion.
Posted from Malaysia
By laura | July 8th, 2006 at 6:42 am I think competing the third place is really well worth watching.Cause I like Germany.I love to watch every single game they play;it’s exciting.However, it’a pity that Ballack will sit out during the match.I will miss him.At least, Podolsky and Lahm still in there. They are good to watch.
Posted from 
China
By lala | July 8th, 2006 at 7:03 am most of the friends i asked are watching the match.
it’s showing at 3am (on saturday night — early sunday morning).
if it was a work night, we might not have watched though.
Posted from 
Singapore
By Claude | July 8th, 2006 at 9:35 am It is only in the last 20 years or so that people have decided that there is no need to play a third place match. Here in the US we used to have a game like that in the NCAA basketball tourney. It used to precede the final. Now the fans get to pay more per ticket and see one less game. We have third place matches in the Olympics and why not in soccer?
Posted from United States
By Affin | July 8th, 2006 at 2:44 pm I see the point you are making, Claude.
But I guess with “soccer” or football as we prefer to call it, we are crazy lunatics who only want the top prize.
Yes, it doesn’t make sense. I can’t even explain it….
But even Scolari has said it is a match for which it is not so easy to motivate his players.
Posted from Malaysia
By Vinny | July 8th, 2006 at 3:30 pm The World Cup is the greatest soccer tournament in the world. Why would we complain about one more game, when it only comes around once every four years. I played for years and I’m sure if any player got to the world’s greatest stage, they wouldn’t be crying about playing in one more game if they lost in the semi’s.
Posted from United States
By Arthur | July 8th, 2006 at 4:44 pm it’s good for the host-nation, i think the koreans loved it back in 02 and it’s a great opportunity for the fans and the team, especially the subs. also, kahn will get his farewell game at his home wc, playing one last time as the teams kaptain and we’lll probably see more enjoyable football than tommorow night, cause a wc-final lives rather from it’s tension than its beauty
By LiverpoolFC | July 8th, 2006 at 5:09 pm 3rd place is an important game. It should remain, I remember when Croatia got 3rd place in 1998 and that was amazing, its a great game usually and shouldn’t be knocked. Great players can be made in 3rd place games, Davor Suker won the golden boot in that game so its definately important and definately should be played out and who cares if u played someone else before hand and got Knocked OUT thats the luck of the Draw are we gonna go back to when fifa pulled out the balls for the Group games? Lets jus enjoy Germany vs Portugal caus it should be an absolute beauty 
Posted from Australia
By Danny | July 8th, 2006 at 5:10 pm Cmon Portugal. Pauleta for once please show up against a major team. Deco where were you last game? Why didn’t Tiago play last match? Will Nuno Gomes or Boa Morte finally get some action on the pitch if Pauleta doesn’t perform again? How’s the health of Miguel? I guess we will find out later today.
Posted from United States
By CA KL LA | July 8th, 2006 at 6:02 pm if you want to write a nice note to the german team go here
http://www.dermannschaftdankt.de/
Posted from United States
By skillz | July 8th, 2006 at 6:17 pm third place matches are great, anyone remember korea vs. turkey?
Posted from 
Canada
By NumberTWO | July 10th, 2006 at 9:42 am The 3rd place match only interests me for a reason…To see who will miss Euro ‘08! 
According to a stats since 1960, any european country who gets the bronze metal will surely miss the next Euro Cup.
Year Country Missed Euro
‘66 Portugal ‘68
‘74 Poland ‘76
‘82 Poland ‘84
‘90 Italy ‘92
‘94 Sweden ‘96
‘98 Croatia ‘00
‘02 Turkey ‘04
Germany will plays the likes of czech, Ireland, Slovakia, and Wales in Group D in Euro ‘08 qualification rounds… Let’s see if the jinx holds true..
Posted from Malaysia
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