 | Team News |  | Player Profiles | | Fixtures | | Betting | | Mobile |  |
England News
Latest News / Squad / Team Profile / Player Profiles / Betting / Results
World Cup 2006 Final blog
09/07/2006: Germany went mad for their side last night celebrating as though they had won the World Cup 2006 final.
Bastian Schweinsteiger's brace and an own goal from Petit secured the hosts Germany third place in the World Cup after a 3-1 win against Portugal
Following a goalless first 45 minutes the entertainment was saved for the second half in Stuttgart with Schweinsteiger scoring the first and forcing the second out of the unfortunate Petit. He then grabbed a third with a stunning strike but was substituted before he could get the chance to secure the first hat-trick of the tournament.
Portugal continued to battle on until the end and were rewarded with a late consolation from Nuno Gomes.
Germany started the game well and appealed for a penalty after just five minutes when Bernd Schneider played a free-kick into the Portugal area and Christoph Metzelder got up well to head the ball down to Sebastian Kehl whose effort looked to be deflected behind off Nuno Valente's hand.
Both sides went on to enjoy good possession in spells but neither goal was threatened until 15 minutes when Pedro Pauleta found himself in space on the left side of the German penalty area but Oliver Khan got down well to parry his low shot away to safety.
At the other end on 20 minutes Kehl tried a cheeky chip from the edge of the area which Portugal keeper Ricardo had to tip over his own crossbar.
Five minutes later and young player of the tournament Lukas Podolski stung the hands of Ricardo with a fierce free-kick from the edge of the area.
Portugal had two decent chances to score at the other end as Deco fired just over and then Simao Sabrosa's glancing header from a free-kick into the area just went wide of the far post on 36 minutes.
The second half started lively enough and, after some slight goalmouth action, the game burst into life on 56 minutes. Schweinsteiger beat two defenders to make room on the edge of the area before hitting a right-foot shot which looked to swerve at the last minute and beat Ricardo in the centre of the goal.
Five minutes later it was 2-0 with Paulo Ferreira fouling Podolski out on the left flank and Schweinsteiger's low free-kick into the area was sliced past his own keeper off the shin of Petit.
Portugal almost got one back on 62 minutes but Kahn got down well to deny Deco as Luiz Felipe Scolari's side looked determined to get back into the contest.
However their hopes were dashed on 78 minutes when Schweinsteiger picked up the ball out on the left before cutting inside and unleashing an unstoppable right-foot shot which flew into the far corner of Ricardo's net.
Portugal almost got back into the game when Metzelder's attempted headed clearance hit the feet of Kahn on the goalline before rolling to safety and the veteran keeper then had to punch away Ronaldo's low swerving 35-yard free-kick on 83 minutes.
The consolation goal did arrive two minutes from time as Gomes sent a diving header past Kahn from close range following Luis Figo's excellent cross from the right. However it was too little too late and Germany comfortably held on to end their World Cup 2006 campaign on home soil on a high note.
World Cup Mobile
 Real Tones | ||
| 1 | We Are The Champions  |  |
| 2 | Smack That | |
| 3 | Chasing Cars | |
| 4 | Ruby | |
| 5 | Theme | |
| 6 | Spider Pig Song | |
| Polyphonic | ||
| 7 | Ring Of Fire | |
| 8 | Sexyback |  |
| 9 | The Great Escape | |
| 10 | Mission Impossible | |
| 11 | James Bond | |
| 12 | Exorcist Theme (Tubular Bells) | |
| 13 | Benny Hill | |
| 14 | Monster | |
| Sound Effects | ||
| 15 | Mosquito | |
| Games | ||
| 16 | FIFA World Cup(TM) | |
| 17 | Soccer Pinball | |
Comments on: World Cup 2006 Final blog
Write your own comment:Latest England News
Gerrard on the attack (10/06/2006)
FA plan FIFA fluids appeal (11/06/2006)
Walcott and Rooney boost England (12/06/2006)
Crouch backs Owen (13/06/2006)
England v Trinidad and Tobago (14/06/2006)