Germany secure third spot

Thomas Muller and Mesut Ozil (right)
12 April 2012

Thomas Muller staked his claim for the Golden Shoe award as the World Cup's top scorer as Germany secured the third-place consolation prize with a 3-2 win over Uruguay.

The 20-year-old forward currently leads the race after his fifth goal of the tournament - the same as Diego Forlan, David Villa and Wesley Sneijder but with more 'assists'.

Following Muller's opener, Edinson Cavani equalised for Uruguay and Forlan volleyed the South Americans in front before a goalkeeping error allowed Marcell Jansen to equalise. A thrilling game - the most open contest of the World Cup - was finally decided when Sami Khedira headed home to give Germany their second third-place finish in consecutive tournaments.

It was Germany who seized control of the match in the opening exchanges and they made their dominance tell in the 19th minute when Bastian Schweinsteiger let fly from 30 yards and Uruguay keeper Fernando Muslera misjudged the shot, allowing Muller to tuck home the loose ball with a minimum of fuss.

That should have been the cue for Joachim Low's side to impose their game on the South Americans but instead Schweinsteiger, their skipper and inspiration all tournament, allowed himself to be caught in possession by Diego Perez and suddenly it was the Germans being hit on the break.

Luis Suarez's perfectly-timed pass put Edinson Cavani through on the left and he finished expertly low into the far corner to put Uruguay on level terms in the 28th minute.

Suarez was then denied by a reaction block from Hans-Jorg Butt, seconds after he had thwarted Cavani, but Germany's keeper could do nothing when Forlan's first-time shot from the edge of the box.

Egidio Arevalo muscled his way down the right and Forlan met his cross on the volley, the ball bouncing down into the ground and whistling into the net with Butt helpless.

But just when Uruguay looked on top another goalkeeping blunder allowed Germany back into the game. Muslera came for Jerome Boateng's cross but missed it completely, allowing Marcell Jansen to head into an empty net.

With eight minutes left Mesut Ozil's corner caused chaos in the Uruguay area and Sami Khedira looped a header into the corner to make it 3-2.

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