The Third/Fourth Place play-off has been written off as a meaningless occasion but, if my memory serves me correctly, this match has been very easy on the eye in previous World Cups so, while not exactly expecting a thriller, I was certainly looking forward to the game in Stuttgart.
After the bitter disappointment of losing in the semis, some players invariably find it hard to be up for this match so coaches tend to introduce fringe players to the action or, in the case of Oliver Kahn, give a veteran a sentimental farewell appearance. It all adds to a carefree approach which helps teams to discard the shackles which can stifle a more high-powered game.
Mind you, this one took a while to get going. The first half was lively enough but nobody seemed to be getting too upset if things were going against them, which is probably just as well because the near-side linesman seemed to be half-asleep. Referee's assistant? This joker wouldn't lift his flag until he saw what the ref was going to give.
After 57 minutes Sebastian Schweinsteiger hammed Germany into the lead with a shot which had keeper Ricardo flapping at thin air, he fired in a free-kick which Petit turned into his own net, then completed a semi-hat-trick (not the first guy in World Cup history to score a two goal hat-trick!!!) with another superb long range shot. Nuno Gomes pulled a late goal back for the Portuguese but they were never going to stop the hosts from ending the tourney in style.
It was fitting that they should do so. The success of a World Cup requires a meaningful contribution from the host nation and, despite being written off by friend and foe alike, Germany were serious contenders for so much of the past month. Any team which could beat the Germans on home soil would fancy themselves as ultimate winners, hence the upbeat mood in the Italian camp despite dire events at home.
Podolski was a somewhat fortunate winner of the Young Play Of The Tournament award. The pre-tourney injuries to Messi and Rooney diminished their impact and Christiano Ronaldo's inability to stand up straight loaded the dice against him. And by winning the Golden Shoe Award with just five goals, Miroslav Klose can be thankful for the absence of a genuine top quality striker bringing some form into the event.
The constant booing of Christiano Ronaldo was puzzling. Sure, his antics were annoying but since when did Germans get so sensitive to such matters? His veteran team-mate Figo had obviously kissed and made up with Big Phil Scolari before the end of the game against Germany, getting a late call from the bench to bow out in style.
But it was the Germans' day and don't believe any talk of third place being meaningless to them. I'm told the cavalcades of cars were roaring up and down the streets with horns blaring long after the final whistle and there are plans for an open-topped bus ride through Berlin just hours before the World Cup Final.
Well, they always did say they would be in Berlin on July 9.
LITTLE BOY BLUE