Germany Defeats Uruguay 3-2 For Second Consecutive Third-Place Finish

A 19-yard free kick from Diego Forlán went off the crossbar, just above the left post, with the last action of the third-place match, leaving Germany with their second successive World Cup third place finish, defeating Uruguay 3-2 on Saturday.

Forlán’s direct kick was given in the 93rd minute after a foul by defender Arne Friedrich. The resulting left-footed attempt would have given the Uruguayan his sixth goal of the tournament and put him into the lead for the Golden Foot, but it ended-up being the last act in Uruguay’s fourth-place finish.

Sami Khedira’s first goal for Germany has given his team a 3-2 lead in the 81st minute against Uruguay.

A Mesut Özil corner kick played to the middle of the six yard box hit the ground unplayed, and when Uruguayan captain Diego Lugano was unable to clear the call after some chaotic play, Khedira headed a shot over goalkeeper Fernando Muslera and into the right side of the net for the goal-ahead goal.

Jerome Boateng’s cross from the right flank to the far post was only five yards off the goal line, service that should have been manageable for Uruguayan goalkeeper Fernando Muslera. The `keeper, however, was late off his line, collided with right back Jorge Fucile, and gave left wing Marcell Jansen an easy, equalizing goal.

Jansen, making his first start of the tournament, was ready to challenge for the cross, having made his far post run. His challenge was simplified when Muslera came off his line and collided with Fucile. As both Uruguayans fell to the ground, the cross came to Jansen’s head, who easily redirected the ball into an unprotected net.

Diego Forlan’s half-volley from 17 yards out bounced over-and-around Hand-Jörg Butt and into the German net, giving Uruguay a 2-1 lead in the 51st minute.

For Forlán, it is his fifth goal in seven World Cup 2010 matches, moving him even with Thomas Müller, David Villa and Wesley Sneijder for the tournament lead.

Uruguay midfielder Diego Perez’s dispossession of German counterpart Bastian Schweinsteiger started Uruguay on a break, leading to Edinson Cavani’s tying goal in the 28th minute, making it 1-1 in the World Cup’s third-place match.

Perez’s sliding tackle took the ball from Schweinsteiger at mid-field. The Uruguayan was able to move the ball forward to Luis Suárez, creating a counterattack opportunity for La Celeste that ended with Edinson Cavani poking the ball past Hans-Jörg Butt from nine yards out to, drawing Uruguay event.

Germany went up 1-0 in the 19th minute after Thomas Müller scored off the rebound of a Bastian Schweinsteiger shot.

The goal was Müller’s fifth of the tournament, tying him for the competition’s high mark.

Óscar Tábarez has put-out a full team for today’s third place match, marking the returns of the suspended Jorge Fucile and Luis Suárez and the renewed health of center half Diego Lugano.

Uruguay Starting XI

G - Fernando Muslera

LB - Martin Cáceras

LCB - Diego Godín

RCM - Diego Lugano

RB - Jorge Fucile

LM - Egidio Arévalo

CM - Diego Pérez

RM - Maxi Pereira

SS - Diego Forlán

F - Edinson Cavani

F - Luis Suárez

Germany has made a number of changes to their lineup for today’s third-place match, with Hans-Jörg Butt and Dennis Aogo set to see their first action of the tournament.

Those starts move Manuel Neuer and Philipp Lahm to the bench, where they’ll be joined by starters Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose. Their replacements will be Marcell Jansen and Cacau.