Uruguay welcomed back skipper Diego Lugano and ‘Hand of the Devil’ idol Luis Suarez in their lineup. Meanwhile, Germany were without Podolski and goalkeeper Neuer. Bastian Schweinsteiger had to carry the captain’s armband as Joachim Lowe's youngsters were aiming to bounce back from their semi-final defeat to Spain.
Uruguay vs Germany, First Half: All Square, Thomas Muller On Target Again
The heavy rain that was pouring down prevented both teams from kicking off the match strongly. Still, early chances fell at both ends of the pitch. At a point, there was some irony in the game as Luis Suarez was the player on the pitch that made the loudest call for handball against Germany’s Cacau. The referee took the right decision in awarding Uruguay with a free-kick which Diego Forlan almost executed perfectly.
Minutes later, Arne Friedrich hit the bar with a header before Thomas Muller came very close to breaking the deadlock on the rebound, but Uruguay’s defense was alert to clear away the danger. However, Thomas Muller’s moment wasn’t far away from arriving. The young player clinched the lead for Germany after 19 minutes at the disgust of Cavani who could have prevented his side from conceding such a goal.
To redeem himself, Cavani provided Uruguay with a deserved equalizer in the 28th minute. It all started when Diego Perez dispossessed Bastian Schweinsteiger to set up a counter attacking move. Cavani’s finish was simply unstoppable. At the break, Germany and Uruguay were leveled at 1-1 although La Celeste Olimpica should have definitely found the lead if Luis Suarez had not wasted an easy opportunity to silence the crowd that booed him each time he touched the ball.
Uruguay vs Germany, Second Half: Two Headers Win Bronze For Germany
In the early minutes of the second period, Cavani and Luis Suarez forced Germany’s goalkeeper Butt to produce a double save. The Uruguayans were really playing with determination and it paid off when Diego Forlan shocked Germany’s defense with a boucing volley to complete Arevalo's excellent movement. A typical Diego Forlan goal converted with power and precision.
But the Germans weren’t dead yet. Jansen’s 56th minute header got Germany back into the game. From there, the DFB Eleven took control of the match and transformed Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez into shadows on the field. Sami Khedira scored the second header of the match and the third one for Germany in the 82nd minute from a Ozil corner. That goal proved to be the winner as Diego Forlan’s last-second free-kick dramatically bounced off the crossbar.
There was no ‘Hand of the Devil’, no luck to rescue Uruguay this time. Luis Suarez had done nothing on the night to redeem his side as so many Uruguayans had expected. Uruguay’s defeat to Germany was a victory for all pro-African supporters who could therefore make fun of the unrepentant Luis Suarez whose last achievement at the World Cup would have to be his handball that denied Ghana's Dominic Adiyiah to fire the Black Stars intot he semi-finals of the competition.
Germany have finished third at the 2010 FIFA World Cup whereas Uruguay will have to exit the African continent empty-handed. Perhaps the only trophy that La Celeste Olimpica might have is the Golden Ball which Diego Forlan could deservingly win for his explosive form in front of goal.
