GERMANY WINS THIRD PLACE BATTLE AGAINST URUGUAY

At the best of times a battle for third place doesn?t bring out the intensity or the desire of the teams that have failed to make the finals and is generally regarded as an anti-climactic consolation prize.

But a young German side which is bound to be a force to reckon with in the future and a gutsy Uruguay squad that exceeded all expectations gave football fans around the world a match to remember with a feast of five goals before the Germans grabbed third place in the 2010 FIFA World Cup with a 3-2 win over Uruguay in Port Elizabeth.

Germany began with confidence when Thomas Mueller whom the team missed in its semi final encounter with the Netherlands scored after a dominating spell in the Uruguay half.

It was what BBC Sport described as a straightforward finish after the Uruguay goalkeeper spilled a long-range, swerving drive from around 35 yards by Bastian Schweinsteiger and Muller pounced on the loose ball to score.

The Uruguayans clawed back when the charismatic striker Diego Forlan pushed a pass through to Edinson Cavani who calmly netted the ball past German goalie Hans Joerg Butt.

Diego Forlan brought his World Cup tally to five goals with a remarkable volley shortly after the halftime break.

However, a nervous goalkeeper Muslera committed another mistake that allowed Marcell Jansen to make it 2-2 before Sami Khedira capitalized on a corner kick taken by Mesut Ozil which the Uruguayan defense failed to clear to push Germany up in front 3-2 and they held on to win.

BBC Sport reported that Uruguay exceeded all expectations in reaching the last four and, with a parade through the streets of Montevideo and a date with President Jose Mujica planned for Monday, they were desperate to finish their campaign on a high.

Germany, meanwhile, are a hugely talented young squad who will be together for some years and viewed the meeting with La Celeste as another stepping stone in their development.