The crying girl must be all smiles as hundreds of thousands of Germans gathered to watch their 3rd place game against Portugal as if it was a finals game. Germany did not disappoint them anymore with an entertaining win in the score of 3 – 1 in favor of the host nation.
Hours before the celebration multitudes of people gathered in bars, restaurants, pubs, big screen designated places, etc. and even thousands gathered in front of the team’s hotel room to show them they were behind them all the way.
Germany gave them a spectacular game crushing Portugal with two goals coming from Bastian Schweinsteiger in the 56th and 78th minutes and Oliver Kahn playing exceptionally well guarding their net.
German fans are very happy and please as they echoed they felt like they are world champions with the way they played the game, some would argue it was the most entertaining match in the tournament. I must agree they were moving and having fun in the field, partly because they did not feel the same pressure as they felt in the previous matches. Good for the players, coaches and good for the host nation.
Game notes are as follows:
1. Portugal’s Nuno Valente, Deco and Pauleta as well as Germany’s Lukas Podolski, Miroslav Klose and Bernd Schneider showed an exciting passing combination en route to almost putting the ball behind the net in the opening minutes of the game.
2. Miroslav Klose was pretty upbeat in scoring his sixth goal than spotting Lukas for the shot.
3. Kahn played very well announcing his presence in the early going after diving low for a safe on Simao and Pauleta’s attack and shoot sequence. Likewise he ensured Christian Ronaldo and Deco were shut out with his impressive saves.
4. Podolski almost scored a 20-yard free-kick only to be saved by Ricardo.
5. Schweinsteiger two goal heroic act sent the stadium into frenzy.
6. Portugal’s Petit was in the mood to score only it was in the opponents net after he intervened Schweinsteiger’s low driven free-kick.
7. Third place felt like the Finals with the team and fans making it an extraordinary game.
Germany was a superb host, their players played an entertaining fast-attack style and most of all they deserved to win a medal in the tournament.
[tags]FIFA World Cup, World Cup Germany, Portugal[/tags]
