Brilliant Germany finish Third at home

Two spectacular strikes, and a deflected third from Bastian Schweinsteiger were the main highlights of the playoff for third place between Germany and Portugal, and they were up there with the best strikes seen all tournament, both beating the in form Ricardo in the Portuguese goal.

The hosts were looking to go out on a high in front of their home fans. After a rather dull first half, where no team could tare what were good chances, Germany came out with an attacking focus and played some of the best football of the tournament, to make the end result a 3-1 thumping of Portugal. Sending Oliver Kahn off with a farewell, he will remember more kindly than his last world cup game in Korea four years ago.

The Germans got off to a great start controlling the ball well, and in the fifth minute of the game very nearly had the opener when a free kick was headed down to Sebastian Kehl, who fired just wide when inside the box. Shortly after the tournaments leading goal-scorer, Miroslav Klose was played through only to miss a golden opportunity finding the side netting.

Oliver Kahn was then called into action when Pauleta got through the German defensive wall, but claimed the shot that was fired straight at him. This was not the last time that the German defence would be tested and at the 31st minute Deco was given too much space in the German area but wasted his chance blasting away over the bar, when he should have done better. Five minutes later, the last true chance of the half was missed by Simao, who only had to get a touch on Deco’s corner but missed completely as the ball went to safety.

After a slow start to the second half Germany turned it on, when at the 56th minute Schweinsteiger opened his account with a breathtaking strike from the edge of the area. The swerving shot deceived Ricardo and went straight through his arms and into the net. Chaos ensued for Portugal.

It was now turning into all Germany and Klose crossed the ball in for Lahm, who hit a shot that dipped just over the bar, then in the very next minute Schweinsteiger struck a free which went low and took a nasty deflection of Petit to end in his own net.

Immediately at the other end Kahn showed his skill with a fine diving save to turn away Deco.

Luis Figo was brought on for his final international game, and he had an immediate impact, when he set up Cristiano Ronaldo who was wasteful, shooting straight at Kahn. A quick rebound from Germany saw Schweinsteiger hit an eerily similar effort from the top of the box, as the ball once again swerved at a high speed past Ricardo, and Germany were up three nil and celebrating.

Portugal continued to fight strongly, and at the 88th minute, in what was a fitting send off from the game, Luis Figo delivered a typically perfect ball into the box and Nuno Gomes headed in, denying Kahn a clean sheet, but it did not matter as Germany once again could savour some glory and be proud of finishing third.

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