FIFA : Schweinsteiger the hero as Germany end on a winning note

Stuttgart, July 9 : Bastian Schweinsteiger was the two-goal hero for his side as hosts Germany ended their World Cup campaign on a winning note Saturday with a 3-1 win against Portugal here in the play-off match for third place.

Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann was forced to make several changes, with defenders Arne Friedrich and Per Mertesacker, as well as midfielders Tim Borowski and Michael Ballack all out through injury, while Jens Lehmann made way for former captain Oliver Kahn who captained the side in Ballack’s absence. Middlesbrough defender Robert Huth, who was drafted into defence for Mertesacker injured himself during the warm-up and had to be replaced at short notice. Although fielding several newcomers into the side, Germany began lively and in a fluid game had their first opportunity in the fifth minute when Christoph Metzelder’s shot after a corner appeared to hit Nuno Valente’s hand, but referee Toru Kamikawa waved play on. Portugal, who were out to equal their previous best-ever performance by finishing third as they did in 1966, also played enterprising football and went in search of goals.

Kahn, who won the Golden Ball as the best player in South Korea/Japan four years ago, prevented his side from going behind in the 15th minute when he did well to save Pauleta’s shot. Ten minutes later it was Kahn’s Portuguese counterpart Ricardo who was called upon to make a save when he pushed aside Lukas Podolski’s powerful freekick. Schweinsteiger gave his side the lead in the 56th minute with a long-range effort that seemed to change direction in midair and fly in past the outstretched hands of Ricardo. The Bayern Munich midfielder set up the second goal just four minutes later when his freekick was deflected into his own goal by Petit, who had come on at half time for Costinho. The 21-year-old scored his second in the 78th minute with another shot from outside the area. Nuno Gomes pulled one back with a diving header in the 88th minute from a Luis Figo cross.

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