It was a busy and exciting final two days of World Cup action in South Africa.
First, on Saturday afternoon, Uruguay took on the young but talented German squad, who seemed a sure lock for the Final's after their dismantling of Argentina in the quarter finals.
On a rainy day in Cape Town, it was anyone's game, and there was action at both ends of the field.
Germany made numerous changes to the side that lost to Spain in the semi's on Wednesday. Into the starting lineup was goalie Hans-Jorg Butt, left back Dennis Aogo, left midfielder Marcell Jansen, and forward Cacau.
Uruguay also brought back defenders Jorge Fucile and Diego Lugano into the lineup, as well as Luis Suarez, who had just served the one game suspension for the infamous hand ball in the quarter finals against Ghana.
It was Germany who got off to the quick start, with first time goal scorer Arne Fredrich almost getting his second goal of the World Cup, but his header off a corner went off the crossbar.
In the 19th minute, a long range blast by German midfielder Bastien Schweinsteiger was parried right into the oncoming Thomas Muller, and he cooly finished to give the Germans a 1-0 lead.
In the 28th minute, Uruguay leveled through Edinson Cavani, who slotted a shot home in the lower far corner.
Diego Perez made a wonderful tackle on Schweinsteiger, and then in the next motion, played a perfect pass forward that sprung Cavani on goal, and he hit the mark for the first time this World Cup.
In the 51st minute, Diego Forlan scored his fifth goal of the tournament on a beautiful volley that took one bounce before slamming into the net.
Egidio Arevalo was the one who sent in the cross from the right, and Forlan's strike gave the Uruguayans a 2-1 lead.
Just five minutes later though, Germany equalized through Marcell Jansen, who did amazingly to get a head on a long cross from Jerome Boateng.
Boateng's ball in from the right stayed up in the air for what seemed like an eternity, and somehow the ball got through two Uruguayan defenders and the keeper Fernando Muslera before landing on the head of Jansen. Jansen's header then ended up in the goal, helping Germany tie the game at 2-2.
In the 82nd minute, the Germans finally took back the lead, when Sami Khedira headed a bouncing ball in the box into the back of the net.
Mesut Ozil hit the corner kick into the box, and after taking a couple of deflections and bounces, the ball ended up in front of Khedira, and his placed header gave Germany the 3-2 lead.
Germany held on to win 3-2 and for the second World Cup in a row clinch third place.
We're delighted we've rounded off the tournament with a win, although you can't help thinking about what might have been," said Bastien Schweinsteiger. "We're still a little bit disappointed about the semi-final, but fortunately we've won tonight. It was important, for us, and for our fans in Germany. We were 2-1 down but we've turned the game round, and that shows real strength of character. I'll always be proud of being part of this team at this tournament.
