Match Review & Highlights: Germany 3-2 Uruguay

July 10th, 2010 | by: Daryl |

3rd place

Though Germany were missing Philip Lahm and Lukas Podolksi with flu, and Miroslav Klose’s back injury prevented him making an attempt on Ronaldo’s World Cup goalscoring record, this third place playoff still provided the promised entertainment.

Luis Suarez was back in action for Uruguay, and spent most of the game getting booed by the Port Elizabeth crowd. The two teams split five goals in an enjoyably back and forth game, but Germany will be taking the third place medals (see above) home with them thanks to Sami Khedira’s 82nd minute header.

Goals below:

Mueller 13′ (Germany)

Cavani 28′ (Uruguay)

Forlan 51′ (Uruguay)

Jansen 56′ (Germany)

Khedira 82′ (Germany)

Goal videos via TVGolo

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oskardevarsovie

Where are the people who proclaimed this game a useless match? It was a grand game, a fantastic game, and a great drama for the Uruguayans – for they were the better team indeed. Formidable Forlan, Fantastic Fucile, Spectacular Suarez, Classy Cavani – all of them composing a monumental team effort which was in the end spoiled by – until the last game – one of the best goalkeepers of the tournament – miserable Muslera. And the last-minute freekick struck nearly-perfectly. It was beautiful, it was the poetry of football. Glory to the heavenly celestes.

On the German side, the lack of the Polish duo – Podolski – Klose – was definitely visible. They didn't play a great game – but they were fortunate enough to win this game. They deserve the recognition too, for their deadly efficiency.

But I can't escape the feeling that it wasn't a “just” score. But that's the glorious injustice of football.
Bense235

At least it wasn't boring. The outcome doesn't matter that much.
http://germany.worldcupblog.org/ Jan

“On the German side, the lack of the Polish duo – Podolski – Klose – was definitely visible. They didn't play a great game – but they were fortunate enough to win this game. They deserve the recognition too, for their deadly efficiency.”

Why not just write lack of Podolski and Klose. It's more accurate.
oskardevarsovie

What's wrong in calling them that? Maybe I should've used a quotation mark, but they do have Polish backgrounds and that's what they have in common.
http://germany.worldcupblog.org/ Jan

Yes and they also have German relatives, which qualified them as ethnic Germans when they emigrated to Germany. That's also why they both got German citizenship, as German citizenship laws were still stricter back then. You could say Polish-born.
http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/KMXHWZ3H42URYB46EGQD5BZTMA roryd

Why do Uruguay get four stars on their jersey when they only won the Cup twice?
http://www.mcalcio.com Marco P.

Good question. Uruguay won 2 FIFA World Cups, 14 Copa Americas, and 2 Olympic Games titles to date. Perhaps the additional two stars represent the latter?
http://www.mcalcio.com Marco P.

Yep. Just got confirmation from the “Uruguay national football team” wiki page (”kit” section):

Four stars appear above the team logo on the jersey. Two represent Uruguay's 1930 and 1950 World Cup victories, and the other two represent the gold medals received at the 1924 and 1928 Summer Olympics, which at the time was the most important international football competition.
Nick_GWCB

Let's not forget Lahm Germany's best defender and Neuer Germany's first choice goalkeeper and the fact that Germany started with 3 players who up until now got a combined 5 minutes on the pitch. Truth is Uruguay could not beat a German B side.