Germany Claim Third Place

Poor Ending
By Chris O'Brien
July 23 2006

Cristiano Ronaldo was in action for Portugal as they ended their World Cup bid with a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Germany. The result means Jurgen Klinsmann's men claim the third place slot on the final weekend of the tournament.

Manchester United's under-fire star Cristiano Ronaldo was in action as Portugal's World Cup campaign ended in further disappointment with a 3-1 defeat at the hands of host nation Germany in the third place play-off.

Bastian Schweinsteiger netted two long-range efforts for Jurgen Klinnsman's men and also struck the free-kick that rebounded off Portugal's Armando Petit before finding its way passed Ricardo. Nuno Gomes added consolation two minutes from time for the Portuguese, but it will do little to ease the pain of their semi-final defeat to the French.

Full Time - Germany 3-1 Portugal
Attendance - 52,000

Germany: Kahn, Jansen, Nowotny, Metzelder, Lahm, Schneider, Kehl, Frings, Schweinsteiger (Hitzlsperger 79), Klose (Neuville 64), Podolski (Hanke 71).
Substitutes Not Used: Asamoah, Ballack, Borowski, Friedrich, Hildebrand, Lehmann, Mertesacker, Huth, Odonkor.

Portugal: Ricardo, Paulo Ferreira, Ricardo Costa, Meira, Nuno Valente (Nuno Gomes 69), Costinha (Petit 45), Maniche, Deco, Ronaldo, Pauleta (Figo 77), Simao.
Substitutes Not Used: Boa Morte, Caneira, Miguel, Paulo Santos, Postiga, Quim, Tiago, Viana.