With several players in contention for Golden Boot honors the match between Uruguay and Germany today always promised to be keenly fought. Beyond the individual honors, however, national pride was at stake too and both teams took to the pitch ready to play.
Uruguay was back at full strength with skipper Diego Lugano, fullback Jorge Fucile and striker Luis Suarez back in the starting line up.
Germany, on the other hand, started the match with strike Miroslav Klose on the bench due to a back injury, while fellow striker Lukas Podolski and fullback Philipp Lahm were sidelined because of a flu bug.
Germany took the lead just 19 minutes in when a Bastian Schweinsteiger shot from distance was parried by Uruguay keeper Fernando Muslera. Young German sensation Thomas Muller was the only player following up and he knocked the rebound into the Uruguay net for his fifth goal of the tournament. Uruguay 0-1 Germany.
Cavani equalizes
The South Americans were not content to stay behind, though, and they equalized in the 28th minute
after Bastian Schweinsteiger uncharacteristically lost possession in midfield to combative Diego Perez. The ball found its way to Edinson Cavani who poked it past Hans-Jorg Butt for the equalizer. Uruguay 1-1 Germany.
Uruguay took the lead in the 51st minute when Diego Forlan volleyed in a cross from Aravelo. This was Forlan’s fifth goal of the tournament. Uruguay 2-1 Germany.
Germany equalized on a goal created by their two fullbacks. Jerome Boateng crossed from the right to Marcel Janssen who had been patrolling the left side. Uruguay keeper Muslera misjudged his attempted clearance and Janssen nodded the ball home for the equalizer. Uruguay 2-2 Germany.
The winner for Germany came in the 82nd minute from a header by Sami Khedira after the ball rebounded in a very unfortunate manner off the foot of Uruguay skipper Diego Lugano during a melee in the Uruguay six yard box. Uruguay 2-3 Germany.
Uruguay kept fighting, however, and nearly had an equalizer in stoppage time from a Diego Forlan free kick, the last kick of the game it turned out, but the ball came off the crossbar.
It was an entertaining game of football in which both teams played an open and attacking game. Had this been the final there could have been no complaints.
Paul's Predictions (Parrot an imposter?)
Paul the prognosticating octopus once again correctly predicted a Germany result. He predicted Germany would beat Uruguay to win the third place game in the 2010 World Cup.
He has also picked Spain over Holland in Sunday’s World Cup Final.
Now comes word that a parrot or parakeet in Singapore is also clairvoyant and has picked Holland to be the winner in the final.
The parrot, who goes by the name of Mani, began predicting the World Cup at the quarter-final level, and predicted all four matches correctly. He was only 50% correct in the semi-finals, though, having selected Uruguay to beat the Netherlands.
Mani’s method is to exit his cage and use his beak to select one of two cards placed in front of him. The underside of each card bears the name of a tea. Once turned over, the card Mani has selected reveals his prediction.
This seems to me to rely on luck primarily, and so I’ll go with Paul’s prediction.
Larissa an honorable woman; will keep her promise
Model Larissa Riquelme had promised to run naked through the streets of Asuncion if Paraguay were to
win the World Cup. Paraguay were knocked out by Spain the quarterfinals, however, much to the disappointment of red-blooded men everywhere.
Now comes word that the delightful Larissa will honor her promise anyway, citing the players’ hard work on the pitch for her generosity of spirit. It’s to happen this weekend, apparently, and Larissa will be painted in the colors of the Paraguay flag.
Howard Webb: World Cup Top Cop
Englishman Howard Webb, who has been picked to referee Sunday’s World Cup Final between Holland and Spain is listed on FIFA’s website as a “professional referee.” But Webb, from Rotherham in Yorkshire was once a full time police sergeant. He still puts in the occasional day at the police office.
FIFA lists Webb’s assistant Darren Cann as a “professional assistant referee,” while no profession is given for the third member of the English referee team Michael Mullarkey.
Young Germans on display
Germany’s young side found its face in Thomas Muller (20 years old) and Mesut Ozil (21), who shone at the 2010 World Cup. But the German squad clearly has a nucleus of young fellows (some of whom we saw and others who remained on the bench) likely to be called on to qualify Germany for World Cup 2014 in Brazil.
Remember these names:
Toni Kroos (20, Bayern Munich/Beyer Leverkusen), Dennis Aogo (23, Hamburger SV), Marko Marin (21, Werder Bremen), Holgar Badstuber (21, Bayern Munich), Jerome Boateng (21, Hamburger SV/Manchester City).
