Muller, Diego Forlan join top scorers as Germany pip Uruguay for bronze

Thomas Muller and Diego Forlan became five-goal joint top scorers at the 2010 World Cup finals as Germany beat Uruguay 3-2 in the tournament's third-place play-off. It was the third time, a record, that Germany have finished third; it was also a record third play-off defeat for the South Americans.

An entertaining game despite the driving rain saw Germany exerting the early pressure. A Mesut Ozil corner was headed against the bar by Arne Friedrich in the ninth minute before Muller scored in th 20th after keeper Fernando Muslera had spilled a swerving 35-metre drive from Bastian Schweinsteiger.

The 20-year-old from Bayern Munich had been recalled to the German attack after being suspended for their semi-final defeat by Spain; his return only balanced, however, the absence of club-mate Miroslav Klose after injury and illness. Klose thus missed the chance of the two goal which would have seen him surpass Brazil's 15-goal Ronaldo as the World Cup's overall leading marksman.

Schweinsteiger had an unwitting hand in the Uruguayan equaliser in the 27th minute when he was  caught in possession in midfield by Alvaro Pereira and the ball was swiftlty moved on by Luis Suarez for Edinson Cavani to score.

Return pass

Uruguay even took the lead five minutes into the second half when Egidio Arevalo took a return pass from Suarez and crossed from the right for Forlan to volley spectacularly past keeper Hans-Jorg Butt. This was also Forlan's fifth goal of the tournament and he and Muller were thus now on level terms with Spain's David Villa and Holland's Wesley Sneijder.

The advantage lasted only five minutes. Then Jerome Boateng slung over a right-wing cross at which Muslera flapped ineffectually so Marcell Jansen, almost to his own surprise, could head home.

Uruguay, last South American survivors in the finals, went close to regaining the lead through Suarez only to be foiled by Butt whose reflexes thus paved the way for Germany to launch yet another counter-attack and grab the winner. Sami Khedira nodded home from close range after Uruguay failed suicidally to clear a right-wing corner.

The Celeste surged forward in desperate pursuit of an equaliser of their own in stoppage time but were out of luck when Forlan's last-kick ricocheted away off the top of Butt's crossbar

But it was really a great match between the two teams. Muller and Forlan will extend their toes to golden boot if both villa and Sneijder dont shoot any goals today.

PS:                                                                                                                            Shakira is going to perform for the final ceremony going to start in another five minutes with her waka-waka song.. I am going now.. Bye.. Shakiraaaaaaaa... ;)