Uruguay vs Germany – Third-Place Match Preview
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The battle for third place at the 2010 FIFA World Cup will be decided tonight when Uruguay meets Germany at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.
Uruguay and Germany both had their FIFA World Cup dreams shattered in the semi-finals with defeat to the Netherlands and Spain respectively; but with either side assured of at least another match on the world stage, the respective coaches will use this opportunity to showcase the skills of their players one more time before their tournament campaigns come to an end.
Uruguay’s brilliant run throughout the tournament wasn’t predicted by many following its first-up tedious performance in the goalless draw with 2006 finalists, France.
Yet since then, La Celeste fulfilled the hearts of the football romantics consecutively overpowering South Africa, Mexico, South Korea and Ghana before succumbing to the Dutch, 3-2, amid a poor second-half performance.
Notwithstanding their semi-final slip-up, the South Americans evoked past footballing memories in emulating the Uruguayan teams of old, who twice won the FIFA World Cup back in 1930 and 1950.
Meanwhile, for Germany, it has undoubtedly been the most thrilling side to watch during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Die Nationalmannschaft has unexpectedly entertained the world with its youthful exuberance throughout the tournament producing swift counter-attacking football over the journey, which has so often ended up in goals.
Nevertheless, aesthetic qualities counted for nothing against the more-experienced Spanish, who gave the Germans a footballing lesson in eventually outclassing its European opponents, 1-0.
Germany has previously been involved in the third-place final on four occasions meaning it is no stranger to the arguably pointless fixture.
It too boasts a healthy 75% record taking out the decider three times.
In fact, Die Nationalmannschaft’s most recent appearance in the third-place final came only four years ago when it outclassed a brave Portugal, 3-1, through a game-changing Bastian Schweinsteiger brace.
While, coincidentally, Uruguay’s only appearance in this corresponding fixture occurred back in the 1970 FIFA World Cup when La Celeste surrendered to the Germans, 1-0, with Wolfgang Overath grabbing the decisive goal for the winners.
Team News – Uruguay
Luis Suarez will return to the line-up following his match-winning indiscretion against Ghana that earned him a one-match ban.
As a result, Walter Gargano deputised for the Ajax Amsterdam forward against the Netherlands, so it is likely that Uruguayan coach, Oscar Tabarez, will drop the defensive midfielder to the bench at the expense of Suarez.
In other news, captain, Diego Lugano, is ready to come straight back into the starting eleven after shaking off a knee injury, with Diego Godin likely to be replaced from the centre of defence.
Meanwhile, talismanic forward, Diego Forlan, admitted that he played through the semi-final defeat to the Netherlands with a slight thigh injury.
Yet, despite the hindrance, the 31-year-old Atletico Madrid striker is all set to take his place in the starting line-up against the much younger Germans.
Team News – Germany
The flu has certainly hit the German camp with coach, Joachim Löw; captain, Philipp Lahm and Lukas Podolski succumbing to the virus after Germany’s disappointing loss to FIFA World Cup final newcomers in Spain.
With Löw even unable to attend the pre-match conference, assistant coach, Hansi Flick, insisted that despite the absence of Lahm and Podolski from training on Friday, they are on the road to recovery which should see both players take their place in the starting line-up on Saturday night.
However, the big story for Germany is that Miroslav Klose is in doubt to take part in what is likely to be his last match at the World Cup finals following a back injury he sustained against Spain.
The Bayern Munich striker is believed to be desperate to play in the hope that he can equal Ronaldo’s all-time FIFA World Cup goal scoring record of 15 goals.
In better news for the Germans, exciting midfielder, Thomas Müller, will return to the line-up having served his one-match suspension, meaning Piotr Trochowski will likely drop to the bench.
FIFA World Cup Match Prediction
Third-place finals have often been synonymous with compelling matches that have the potential to produce several goals.
With pride (and prize money) on the line, anticipate that both sides will go on all-out attack to restore whatever pride has been lost from their semi-final setbacks.
Germany possesses stacks of goal scoring prowess in Klose, Podolski and Müller and with Löw’s men improving with every match, it’s hard to see the Uruguayans keeping a clean-sheet in this one.
In opposition, Uruguay’s valiant run in the tournament has earned the South Americans the ultimate respect from the football world, but it is unlikely that Forlan, Suarez and co. will be able to keep the German raids at bay.
This match should end up being a football treat for the neutrals, with both sides likely to trade goals in a clash that is said to be enjoyed ‘for the good of the game’.
Uruguay 2-4 Germany
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