Nice Consolation for a Job Well-Done

It was a just result to see Germany go out on top of the match for Third Place. The team, sold short by their fans going into the tournament, built up great momentum in their second Group Stage match with the last-minute win against rival Poland in Dortmund.

From there, the home team's play improved to the point that in making their run to the semifinals, they would have indeed been a worthy finalist had Italy not risen to the occasion in the waning minutes of the final overtime period.

Against Portugal in the Third Place match, the first half dragged a bit as the teams played their way into the spirit of the game. Portugal being without their spiritual leader, captain Luis Figo, whom Scolari chose not to start, no doubt had some significant impact on the Portugese. On the other bench, German coach Jurgen Klinnsman proved himself a fair man by starting the 2002 hero, Oliver Kahn, in goal. Another starter, however, would be the catalyst for the Germans in the second half.

The entire tournament, 22-year old Bastian Schweinsteiger had been on the verge of erupting. His high work rate and pace off the flanks had been troublesome for every opponent he faced but his work on the defensive end cost him his starting spot midway through the tournament.

Against Portugal, Schweinsteiger was just the tonic for a German offense, withering under the month-long pressures of hosting and building expectations of an entire nation.

In the 55th minute, Schweinsteiger unleashed a 25-yard rocket shot from the left side of the circle after breaking in off the flank. Portugese goalkeeper Ricardo had no chance on the blast, as Germany went up 1-0. Five minutes later, a free kick by Schweinsteiger, from nearly the same spot as the scoring strike, was deflected in for an own goal by defender Petit.

A done deal by this point, in the 77th minute, Schweinsteiger, a favorite among fans of both his Bayern Munich club and his country's side, nonetheless did more damage from outside the box as he let fly another powerful, bending blast, beating Ricardo again for a 3-0 German lead.

A Portugese goal in the closing minutes, off a Nuno Gomes back-post header when a late-entering Figo served a beautiful ball from way off the right flank, was to keep Kahn from having a clean sheet in what may be his last World Cup match for Germany.

As with all the content of this blog, written and photographic, Copyrighted 2006, All Rights Reserved, Perry McIntyre, Atlanta, GA - USA.