Third Place Play-Off Betting Preview - Germany v Uruguay

Written by James Beckett Thursday, 08 July 2010 19:12

Betting Odds

In possible the most pointless betting game in football, Uruguay take on Germany in the third place playoff of the World Cup. After semi final heartbreak for both sides, the game will be unwelcome for both sets of players, who would probably much rather catch the next the plane home, instead they have to compete for an honour which in truth means very little.


Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez though has insisted his players will give it their all on Saturday, and he hopes to have the talismanic figure of Diego Forlan available, after he was was forced off with a thigh complaint during the semi final.


Forlan has starred for Uruguay so far in South Africa, scoring four times during his six games, and his performances have seen him linked with a host of European clubs. The former Manchester United man will be certainly hoping for one last chance to showcase his talents in front of a global audience.


Tabarez will however defiantly have Ajax striker Luis Suarez available after he missed the semi final through suspension. Suarez could come in for Walter Gargano, meaning once again Forlan is used just behind the front two of Suarez and Edison Cavani.


Elsewhere, Jorge Fucile could come back in to the side for Martín Cáceres, however given the nature of the game, Tabarez could opt to give the Barcelona defender his second game of the tournament. But Tabarez will defiantly be without captain Diego Lugano who misses out with a knee injury.


But whoever Tabarez picks, they will be up against a German side who have arguably been the most impressive side in South Africa. Coach Joachim Löw has assembled a group of young hungry players, and the results have been superb, including four goal humiliations of England and Argentina.

But against Spain, Germany came unstuck and were left disappointed in the semi finals for the second World Cup in a row. Now Löw faces the almost impossible task of attempting to pick up his players, who will obviously be bitterly disappointed.


Löw will however have four goal man Thomas Müller available again after he missed the game with Spain through suspension. The Bayern Munich man should come back in to the side for Toni Kroos, the man who replaced him for the semi final.


Elsewhere though don't expect Germany to make a host of changes. Striker Miroslav Klose will be out to equal the record for amount of goals at a World Cup finals. Klose is currently one behind Ronaldo, and level with the great Gerd Müller.


In midfield the duo of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mesut Ozil will be out to cap off excellent tournaments in a positive fashion, where as defender and stand in captain Phillip Lahm will be out to make sure his side regain some pride, in what could be his last game with the armband.


Pride will be what both teams are playing for in Port Elizabeth, and given the nature of Germany's World Cup so far, you'd fully expect them to overcome Uruguay and take third place.


Löw and his squad will be fully aware that they perhaps deserved more reward from their impressive displays against England and Argentina, and will be out to impress once more. Where as you feel that Uruguay may just feel they have over achieved already, and already be thinking about the journey home. 

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