The Last and Biggest Game

After today's third place game between Uruguay and Germany, there is only one match left in the 2010 World Cup.  It's bittersweet.  It's sad that the World Cup is ending and we have to wait three years and eleven months until the next one.  But hopefully the best is yet to come.

The World Cup Final is the most exciting, dramatic and important sporting event on the planet.  That doesn't necessarily mean its the best or most scintillating game of the tournament though.  I think that honor goes to this morning's match.

Germany beat Uruguay 3-2 in today's outstanding third place match.  It was my favorite contest of the tournament so far.  Because it was the third place game, it featured two great teams.  They had something to play for because 3rd is obviously better than 4th, but they weren't scared to lose either, since it didn't matter too much.  Both teams attacked each other from the beginning.  The game was quick and flowing, and we saw a series of great counter attacks.

Germany's rising star Thomas Müller (20 years old) played great, and scored his fifth goal (tied for the World Cup lead) of the tournament.  He's a lock to win the tournament's Best Young Player award.  One wonders what might have happened if he wasn't suspended for the semifinal against Spain.

One the other side, Uruguayan star Diego Forlan stole the show once again.  He scored an amazing volleyed goal from long distance, and like Muller it was his fifth.  He also hit the cross bar in the 93rd minute on a spectacular freekick that would have sent the game into extra tme.  He's been outstanding all tournament, and will be a favorite to win the Golden Ball (the MVP award in the World Cup).

The Quarterfinals

Eight more teams have fallen.  Among them are England (who were hugely outclassed by Germany, though not without controversy), Japan (who lost the tournaments first penalty shootout to Paraguay) and of course, the USA. 

Most would agree the round of sixteen exit by the Americans is pretty disappointing.  They won their group, and everything was set up nicely for them to make a run deep into the knockout round.  But they were the second best team on the field last Saturday in Rustenburg, and were deservedly knocked out by a solid Ghanaian side.