World Cup 2010, Germany Vs. Uruguay: Germany Wins Bronze For Second Straight World Cup

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.

Germany wins thanks to Sami Khedira’s 81st minute header, putting home a corner kick from Mesut Özil after Uruguay captain Diego Lugano had failed to clear a ball. Khedira put his header over `keeper Fernando Muslera, into the far side of the net, for Germany’s third goal.

Germany had also gotten goals from Thomas Müller (his fifth of the tournament) and Marcell Jansen, both from goalkeeping mistakes by Muslera. Müller, returning from a one match suspension, put home the rebound of a Bastian Schweinsteiger shot in the 18th minute, giving Germany the lead. Jansen’s goal evened the match at two in the second half when Muslera collided with right back Jorge Fucile while trying to play a Jerome Boateng cross, gifting Jansen an easy goal.

Uruguay equalized Thomas Müller’s goal through Edinson Cavani, who was set-up by Luis Suárez, before taking an early second half lead through Forlán, whose volley of a Egidio Arévalo Rios cross skipped off the ground and in, high to the right of Hans-Jörg Butt.

It would not be enough, however, as Khedira’s goal keeps Germany in the top three for the second straight tournament, Uruguay posting their best finish since 1970.