Germany Secure Third With A Look Into The Future

Germany’s young stars triumphed over a resilient and driven Uruguay side, who tested the German backline time and again. Germany’s starting line-up saw a few stars dropped due to sickness and injury, and the likes of Aogo and Janssen were brought in instead. Hans-Jorg Butt also started in net, which ended his seven year drought without an international cap.

Butt – Boateng, Mertesacker, Friedrich, Aogo – Khedira, Schweinsteiger – Mueller, Ozil, Janssen – Cacau

Miroslav Klose missed the match due to injury, and so was unable to break the World Cup goalscoring record. Klose sits on 14 World Cup goals, which is tied second with another German legend, Gerd Muller.

Germany reverted to the kind of football they played against Argentina and England, and in the end it worked out. Uruguay’s star men put in a stellar performance, but the Germans were able to make their collective quality shine through. Goals from Mueller, Janssen and Khedira secured a win over Uruguay, who scored two of their own through Diego Forlan and Edinson Cavani. Uruguay had a fantastic chance to force extra time and the possibility of penalties with the last kick of the game. A free-kick about 23 yards out cannoned off the top of the crossbar, just inches away from finding the top left-hand corner of the net after a superb hit by Diego Forlan. For Uruguay, that would be the end.

Germany will now look to the future. With players that possess the quality of Mesut Ozil, Thomas Mueller, Jerome Boateng, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Toni Kroos, and so many others, Germany could be challenging for World Cup glory for years to come. And in two years time, the European Championships will be a great tournament for Germany to once again show the world that they can never be counted out. Germany’s young stars will go back to their clubs with the experience of World Cup football, and it will only benefit their careers and the chances the German national team in upcoming tournaments.