Germany clinches 3rd with late goal

                 
Germany's Sami Khedira, left, scores his side's third goal during the World Cup third-place soccer
match.- AP

NESHA STARCEVIC, AP  PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa (AP) -- Germany took third place at the World Cup for the second tournament in a row Saturday with an exciting 3-2 victory over Uruguay.
Uruguay, driven by striker Diego Forlan, almost forced extra time. Forlan's free kick crashed against the crossbar in injury time, the last kick of the match.

      Germany's midfielder Sami Khedira (From left), Germany's defender Dennis Aogo and midfielder Mesut Ozil celebrate with their bronze medals after they won the 2010 World Cup third place football match Uruguay vs. Germany on July 10, 2010 at Nelson Mandela Bay stadium in Port Elizabeth. -AFP

The match was heading for extra time at 2-2 when Sami Khedira scored a late header. The goal ended Uruguay's hopes of beating Germany for the first time in 82 years, while the Germans finished in the top three for the 11th time.
"We had hoped for more, and we did everything for it," Khedira said. "This was some kind of final and we did everything for it. We have a young team and ... can reach higher."

Forlan said after the game that Uruguay had surpassed expectations. "Obviously it's spectacular to be among the top four," he said. "If anyone had asked us at the beginning, we would've liked it. It's positive."

Germany coach Joachim Loew, his voice hoarse from flu, said that his team was going home "with a very good feeling."
"We achieved more than we perhaps expected," Loew said. "Immediately after this match there is no reason to be disappointed. After the match against Spain everyone was disappointed. But champions rise again."

"We have every reason to be fully satisfied with our tournament. There is no room for disappointment."

Uruguay had come from behind to lead 2-1 when Forlan volleyed in Egidio Arevalo's 51st-minute cross for his fifth goal of the tournament. Germany defender Marcell Jansen leveled five minutes later with a header after goalkeeper Fernando Muslera misjudged a cross.
"I think the match was a real match. They staged a great show," Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez said.
Loew also thought both teams played with passion.

"It was obvious tonight both teams wanted to win and not go home empty handed. I have to congratulate the teams on the effort they made and particularly my team when they were trailing," Loew said.

Man-of-the match Thomas Mueller, coming back from suspension in the semifinal, gave Germany the lead in the 18th minute, his fifth goal at the World Cup, sweeping the ball home after Bastian Schweinsteiger's swerving shot had been blocked but not collected by Muslera, who was at fault in Germany's first two goals.

Edinson Cavani equalized for Uruguay in the 28th when he slid a shot past goalkeeper Hans-Joerg Butt.

Uruguay has beaten Germany only once in 10 matches, in 1928. Germany beat Uruguay in the third-place match in 1970 -- the last time Uruguay reached the semifinals.
"I don't think it's too vain to think that if we improve a little we can aspire to certain prominence in future international tournaments," Tabarez said.

Mueller and Forlan are now even at five goals with David Villa of Spain and Wesley Sneijder of the Netherlands, both of whom can increase their total in Sunday's final.

This match was very important for us. We made some mistakes and were about to lose it but we got it back. The team has proved we can play at the top level," Mueller said.

Germany's young team was missing five regulars through injury and illness, including striker Miroslav Klose. Klose, with a painful back, missed a chance to match or beat the World Cup scoring record of 15 goals, held by Brazil striker Ronaldo.

"Luckily, we won, because the disappointment over the semifinal was still there," Schweinsteiger said. "We were behind and we rallied, that shows the character if this team. I am very proud of this team although I have tears in one eye because we did not reach the final."

                                Sami Khedira scores the winning goal as Germany edge Uruguay 3-2 in

                                 a thrilling encounter to win third place in the World Cup

Also missing for Germany were defender and captain Philipp Lahm and forward Lukas Podolski, also down with the flu.

In an action-packed match, Butt made two good saves from Luis Suarez and Forlan after his team's second goal. The 36-year-old veteran, who was third-choice goalkeeper in 2002, earned his World Cup debut instead of regular Manuel Neuer.

In its last three World Cup tournaments, Germany was runner-up in 2002 and third in 2006 at home.
Both coaches' contracts ended with the match. While Loew would not discuss his future, Tabarez said he might continue.
"I could go on ... That is a possibility but this is not the right time to talk about that," he said.
Loew is expected to have talks with the German federation after the team's return home.
Lineups:
Uruguay: Fernando Muslera, Diego Lugano, Diego Godin, Jorge Fucile, Edinson Cavani (Sebastian Abreu, 88), Luis Suarez, Diego Forlan, Diego Perez (Walter Gargano, 77), Maximiliano Pereira, Egidio Arevalo Rios, Martin Caceres.
Germany: Hans-Joerg Butt, Jerome Boateng, Arne Friedrich, Per Mertesacker, Dennis Aogo, Sami Khedira, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Marcell Jansen Toni Kroos, 81), Thomas Mueller, Mesut Oezil (Serdar Tasci, 90), Cacau (Stefan Kiessling, 73).

World Cup 2010 Ghana 0-1 Germany: Mesut Oezil Strike Sends Europeans To Second Round

Ghana's defender Jonathan Mensah (L) fights for the ball with Germany's midfielder Mesut Oezil during the Group D, first round, 2010 World Cup football match Germany vs Ghana on June 23, 2010 at Soccer City stadium in Soweto, suburban Johannesburg. Germany won by 1-0. ARTICLE AFP PHOTO/Monirul Bhuiyan (Photo credit should read Monirul Bhuiyan/AFP/Getty Images)(Photo Credit should Read /AFP/Getty Images)

Ghana's midfielder Andre Ayew fights for the ball with Germany's defender Per Mertesacker (17) during the Group D, first round, 2010 World Cup football match Germany vs Ghana on June 23, 2010 at Soccer City stadium in Soweto, suburban Johannesburg. Germany won by 1-0. ARTICLE AFP PHOTO/Monirul Bhuiyan (Photo credit should read Monirul Bhuiyan/AFP/Getty Images)(Photo Credit should Read /AFP/Getty Images)



Germany squeaked out a 1-0 victory over Ghana on a gorgeous night in Johannesburg's magnificent Soccer City Stadium. While the weather was a chilly 11 degrees Celsius upon kick-off, the game soon heated up.

The European side were aggressive upfront, allowing the Ghanaians to respond with swift counterattacks. Neither side managed to score before the half, but playmaker Mesut Oezil struck on the hour mark to lift the Germans to victory and a first place finish in Group D. Following Australia's 2-1 win over Serbia, Ghana took second.
Having lost to Serbia in their second group match, the Germans faced a must-win scenario against Ghana. Nonetheless, coach Joachim Loew opted not to take a more aggressive stance than in previous matches, preferring his 4-2-3-1 shape over a multi-striker system. For the Germans, Cacau replaced suspended striker Miroslav Klose while Loew replaced unimpressive left-back Holger Badstuber with Jerome Boateng.
Ghana, by contrast, needed just a single point to advance to the round of 16, and coach Milovan Rajevac chose his starting line-up accordingly. The Serbia native retained his conservative 4-2-3-1 formation, and made just one change to his starting XI as John Mensah replaced Lee Addy, joining his namesake, Jonathan Mensah, in central defence.
Ghana kicked off the match and took a direct path for goal, but Asamoah Ayew mis-hit his strike, which looped off target. That would prove to be a rare venture forward for the Black Stars, who played like group leaders: tentative in attack, and content to defend their point.
Early in the game, Germany controlled the lion's share of possession, with holding midfielder Sami Khedira and playmaker Mesut Oezil freely moving forward to join Cacau. Ghana were superbly organised in their defence, however, and the Germans found it extremely difficult to earn clear chances.
The Ghanaians used their pace to counterattack their overcommitting opponents, and instead it was the Africans who earned the better chances on goal. The Ghanaian midfield was superbly industrious, and Gyan, Kevin-Prince Boateng, and Kwadwo Asamoah all did very well pressure the Germans deep and force counterattacks.
Only a heavy touch by Asamoah Gyan, misplaced ball from Kevin-Prince Boateng, solid defending from Arne Friedrich and aggressive goalkeeping from Manuel Neuer prevented the Black Stars from taking an early lead.

Germany were nearly gifted an own goal inside ten minutes, but goalkeeper Richard Kingson reacted quickly to parry Lukas Podolski's deflected cross out for a corner. In the 25th minute, the increasingly influential Oezil was played through on goal, but the 21-year-old was unable to finish as Kingson made a comfortable save.
Moments later, Ghana should have had a goal following a corner. Andre Ayew headed the set piece past goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, but Germany skipper Philipp Lahm cleared the shot off the goal line.
Midway through the first half, Ghana found their feet in midfield, and began to attack Germany more willingly, but like their opponents, were unable to make the final ball to produce a goal.
At the break, Loew was left to ponder his options to produce a goal, whereas Rajevac could be content with the result, though perhaps slightly disappointed his team could not have netted the opener.
As the second half began, the two sides took to the pitch unchanged, and Germany resumed their uncompromising attacking style, while Ghana defended and looked stellar on the break. The first five minutes of the second half were played almost entirely in Ghana's defending half, but the Africans were first to create a clear scoring opportunity. Asamoah was first to a through ball, but Neuer was quick off his line and blocked the midfielder's effort.
In the second half, Lahm moved into a permanent midfield position, and Friedrich, Per Mertesacker, and Jerome Boateng formed a three-man defence. The Germans looked strong on the right channel, but as was the case earlier, never had a reliable target in the penalty box.
As events would unfold, such a player was unnecessary. On the hour mark, Oezil finally broke his scoring duck with a gorgeous volley from the edge of the area. His shot sliced just enough to beat Kingson at the left post, sending the Germans temporarily atop their group.
Ghana responded immediately with a strong spell in attack. Ayew first delivered an exquisite cross to Tagoe, but the attacker's close-ranged header was cleared off the line by Jerome Boateng. Next, Gyan played a perfect back-heel to set up Ayew, but Lahm intervened at the last moment to deflect the resulting shot over the bar.

Lahm moved back into his normal role on the right side of defence and finally able to drop back to a less aggressive stance, the Europeans looked much more stable at the back, and like Ghana before, looked to score on the counterattack.
Ghana earned a good spell of possession, but were unable to get behind their opponents' back line. Despite being dangerously close to crashing out of the tournament, the Ghanaians seemed to lose their desire to score. It was a thin line that Ghana toed between facing the United States in the round of 16 and finishing third in their group.
In the end, that gamble paid off. Both sides played to a rather lacklustre conclusion, with Germany finishing first, and Ghana second in Group D. The two teams now advance to the second round to face England and the United States, respectively.

From Goal.com