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[02/06/2006]

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KAHN DO >>>>
Germany's goal keeper Oliver Kahn waves while fireworks explode after the World Cup 3rd place soccer match

Web Exclusive | The World Cup | Match Report | Germany v Portugal

Third Place Provides A Final Flourish

Germany desrves its runners-up place with a fine win against the Portuguese and both teams play with pride

Bruce Crumley: Runners-Up Final Is No Compensation
Preview: Vying For The Home Favors

Posted Wednesday, July 8, 2006; 23.09BST
Did I hear someone calling these "ConFins" a lamentable waste of human energy, and karmic crime against the grass they are played on? Man, some people!

If the Consolation Final in Stuttgart held out nothing more alluring to the eventual winner than the virtual bronze medal it was initially created to discern (in case you missed it, I just totally busted FIFA for ripping off the Olympic Games), the two teams contesting it certainly act as though they were battling for some Home Shopping Channel booby prize. And they both deserve a lot of credit for that.

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It would have been real easy to turn up, start all-sub teams, and let everyone take a bath for 90 minutes. Instead, both sides came out to play, and for real. So real, in fact, that the Platform Plunging Brothers, Cristiano Ronaldo and Pauleta, not only refused the luxury of an unmotivated bath: they actually staged numerous dives in the hopes of (yet once again repeating reoccurring repetitive redundant attempts that have tarnished their team's otherwise wonderful performance this entire Cup) to get utterly unmerited free and penalty kicks. (And to think Coach Scolari dares to feign outrage at the very idea his boys haven't been the victims of unavenged genocide…).

The Germans were serious too — the proof being a sparkling 3-1 win on a pair of magnificent goals scored by youthful midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger. (The third being a own-goal accident by Portugal defender Petit, seeking to deflect a rude free kick by…Bastian Schweinsteiger). Even down 3-0, the Portuguese showed they had pride — and talent — to spare, with Nuno Gomes hammering home an honor-saving goal late in the game that German keeper Oliver Kahn had no hope of batting away. No one had come to go through the motions, meaning there is more than just a spark of champion in them all.

But that, indeed, was why this ConFin was really worth watching: it brought together those established greats on their way out with the budding stars who will make future World Cups thrilling for years to come. Germany's winning effort in Stuttgart was the last time fans would see Kahn in action — that after years of looking to the scowling, shouting as the Mannschaft's icon and captain. No Berlin Wall, Kahn; with him playing, his team had a German Wall before its goal. Replaced as starting keeper by Jens Lehmann just before this Cup opened up, Kahn at no time ever complained, ever carped, never did anything but assume the role of a behind the scenes team mate, enthusiast, and helper.

Then, given the chance to start for Germany one last time in Stuttgart, Kahn showed he'd lost nothing of his on-field talent either. During the match, he made several masterful saves, including one cannon-shot in the second half by Deco. The man is a true champion, a major-league class act, and this consolation final was his chance to say goodbye to an entire footballing world who knows he'll leave a huge hole behind.

Contrasting his final bow, German fans got to again thrill at the efforts of youngsters like Schweinsteiger, Miroslav Klose, and Philipp Lahm — all youths German coach Juergen Klinsmann decided to build an ambitious, attacking Mannschaft around — and not without some major protest from the nation's football establishment. But his plan and innovation has clearly born fruit, even if third place wasn't what Klinsie was shooting for. Because even if Klinsmann clearly had winning the whole shebang as his objective, German fans are well aware that this side that came away with the third spot has a great and long future before it — which may explain the fireworks and cheers that went up to celebrate each of Germany's three goals in the game.

And the simple Volk weren't the only ones really into this match.. With each and every goal scored by his boys, Klinsmann exploded off the bench in joy as if they were in Berlin playing the final itself. One couldn't be happier to see him smiling in such a manner; Klinsmann is one of the nicest people, and true gentleman still in this game.

But let's not forget the Portuguese, either. These guys turned up to play, and despite the regrettable theatrics of players like Ronaldo and Pauleta (and, frankly, the astonishingly unsportsmanlike-like behavior and comments of a so-called leader like Scolari), Portugal deserves a huge round of applause for keeping this Cup interesting and exciting. And it, too, witnessed a changing of the guard in this ConFin.

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The truly great Luis Figo may not have started the match, but his entry late in the second period was just the kind of curtain call his ending career deserved. The photogenic face and unforgivingly potent legs of Portugal's storied "Golden Generation", Figo showed one last flurry of World Cup class as the game wrapped up, and went out alongside — but independent of — Kahn as one of the soon-to-be-regretted greats of not just his own nation's magic generation, but Europe's.

Sure, they may not compare to a Figo — who probably should assume a place in Portugal's pantheon next to the legendary Eusebio — but young players like Tiago, Miguel, and Helder Postiga all promise to carry the Selecao torch proudly. And that's not even mentioning Ronaldo, who — simulations aside — probably will fulfil Scolari's prediction of becoming the best player on the planet before long.

The upshot is, a match that promised to be a pulled-by-the-hair chore wound up being not just a joy to watch, but a real milestone event for everyone who really loves football — and appreciates the players who help us love it. Little wonder both teams stayed on the pitch for long, long minutes to soak that atmosphere up after the match. Also little wonder all of Germany is in the streets celebrating this also-ran game as I type. I'm not sure what it is football serves as a proxy for, but whatever it is, it fulfills that role like nothing else can.

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The Matches

Sun, July 9 – 20:00*
FINAL: Berlin


Italy	v	France
1 (5)		1 (3)

*local time (CEST)

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