Germany finishes third with 3-1 victory over Portugal

Bastian Schweinsteiger scored two goals Saturday to lead host Germany to a 3-1 win over Portugal in the World Cup's third-place match.

Photo: Germany finishes third with 3-1 victory over Portugal

Schweinsteiger also played a part in Germany's other goal when his free kick was deflected in for an own-goal by Portugal's Armando Petit.

Nuno Gomes scored for Portugal in the 88th.

The win in the consolation game was the next best thing to playing in Sunday's final _ contested by France and Italy _ and unexpected when the young German team behind innovative coach Juergen Klinsmann began play four weeks ago.

Schweinsteiger's two goals were almost identical.

In the 56th, he retreated from the corner of the penatly area on the left side and worked to the middle of the field, launching a 25-meter (yard) rising shot over the outstretched left hand of goalkeeper Ricardo Pereira.

Six mintues later the midfielder, who didn't start in the 2-0 loss to Italy in the semifinals, set up the own-goal as Petit deflected his free kick behind Ricardo.

In the 78th, he again sent a rising shot sailing over Ricardo's hands. With this one he ripped off his shirt, drawing applause from the 52,000 sellout that included seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher.

The Germans have won the World Cup three times, and they are always a threat. They've reached the semifinals a record 11 times, and this is the third time they've won the consolation prize.

Portugal failed to match its best World Cup, falling just short of the third-place finish in 1966. Eusebio, a member of that 1966 team, was on the bench but couldn't rally a victory.

Portugal winger Luis Figo came on as a late substitute and, at 33, surely has played in his last World Cup. It's also likely to be the final World Cup game for 37-year-old Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, who got his first start after sitting on the bench for six games behind Jens Lehmann.

German newspapers called this the "Little Final," but it had a big feeling in a stadium awash with Germany's black, yellow and red national colors. One hand-written poster read: "Thanks for being our guest," shorthand for the feel-good factor in this tournament.

The biggest question for Germany is the future of Klinsmann. The California resident has been non-commital about his plans. But even the tabloid Bild, his biggest critic a month ago, has begun a write-in campaign to keep him.

Other newspapers like the Berliner Kurier carried this headline: "Klinsi, please stay." A poster hanging from the team's hotel in Stuttgart read: "Thanks guys for a wonderful four weeks."

This was the first World Cup meeting for the two European teams. Overall, they have played 15 times, and Germany won seven, Portugal won three and five were draws.

Germany made five changes from the team that lost 2-0 to Italy. Portugal made three from the side that fell to 1-0 to France.

Germany had most of the pressure early, but Portugal got the best scoring chance in the 15th when Pauleta broke in from the left, but his shot for a wide open corner was deflected by Kahn diving to the left.

Portugal scored only seven goals in the tournament, and Pauleta's poor finishing was one reason. He scored in the fourth minute of the first game, but not since.

In the 20th, Germany had its best chance when Sebastian Kehl's curling shot was tipped over the crossbar by Ricardo. Five minutes later, Podolski tested Ricardo with a rising free kick.

The first half was broken by fouls and three yellow cards, keeping Japanese referee Toru Kamikawa. busy.

The two quick second-half goals opened the game, reports AP.