Germany claim third place
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Hosts Germany signed off from their own World Cup in fine style as they took third place with a 3-1 win over Portugal in Stuttgart.
Bastian Schweinsteiger was the undoubted hero for the home side as he scored two and created the other.
After a goalless opening half, Germany went ahead with their first attack of the second 45 as Schweinsteiger's drive beat Ricardo just before the hour mark.
Petit then scored an own goal just minutes later before Schweinsteiger scored a wonderful third as he fired into the top corner from 25-yards.
Nuno Gomes's late header was no more than a mere consolation for Portugal as Germany celebrated their success.
A fairly open first had seen Portugal begin the brightest, but their pretty football could not find a way through.
Indeed Germany created the first opening as Sebastian Kehl unleashed a volley from Christoph Metzelder's knock-down - but it flew wide off Nuno Valente - although home appeals for a penalty were rightfully waved away.
Portugal should then have taken the lead just after the ten-minute mark when Pauleta broke clear into the area but captain for the evening Oliver Kahn read the situation and he saved low-down to his left as the Paris Saint Germain star opened himself up looking to curl the ball home.
Germany were looking the more likely and Kehl was again trying his luck, this time with an audacious lob from the edge of the area which needed Ricardo to scramble back and tip over.
Young player of the Tournament Lukas Podolski looked bright and he fired in a terrific free kick, but it was too close to Ricardo who palmed it clear.
Deco finally broke out of his malaise as he picked up the ball on the edge of the area and looked for Kahn's far corner - but he was relieved to see it float just over.
Simao then missed a clear cut chance to put Portugal ahead just before the break as Deco curled a corner into the box - and the Benfica man was completely unmarked in the six-yard area but he failed to make contact when he should have scored.
With Armando Petit on for Costinha - wisely withdrawn with a booking hanging over his head - Portugal began pushing more numbers on from midfield and Maniche won a dangerous free kick on the edge of the box, but Simao could not find the target.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal's main threat whenever he touched the ball, then fed Pauleta into the box, he turned Jens Nowotny but could only fire tamely at a grateful Kahn.
Suddenly more than ten minutes into the second period, Germany ventured forward for the first time and subsequently took the lead.
It was all Schweinsteiger's own work as he broke from the left flank, skipped past Paulo Ferreira and Simao before unleashing a wicked swerving drive which beat Ricardo - although he may well feel disappointed not to have got something on it.
Suddenly with the whole stadium in full voice, Germany were revitalised and Philip Lahm was next to try his chance as Miroslav Klose crossed from the left to find the Bayern Munich defender - who unleashed a dipping volley, only for it to fly wide. Germany maintained the pressure and within minutes the lead was doubled and it was again down to Schweinsteiger. Podolski was brought down by Ferreira on the right and Schweinsteiger unleashed a sizzling drive into the area and Petit could only deflect the ball into the net as he tried to clear.
Portugal did not give up the ghost as Ronaldo played Deco into the box and Kahn was very relieved to see the side netting bulge.
In search of a goal Luiz Felipe Scolari brought on Gomes, but to little avail and so with 15 minutes left Luis Figo was on for his last ever international appearance.
Portugal continued to probe and Ronaldo forced Kahn to palm it clear - but they never looked like beating the Bayern Munich veteran.
There was little doubt that Schweinsteiger was Man of the Match following his involvement in the first two goals - but he put the icing on the cake as he fired home a sensational third.
Again coming off the left flank he swept past Petit before firing into the corner - this time leaving Ricardo with no chance at all. Moments later he was taken off to a deserved standing-ovation as Germany began celebrating the third place.
Still Kahn was needed to keep Portugal at bay, firstly to prevent Metzelder from putting through his own net and then from a Ronaldo free-kick which was hit with fantastic pace.
Kahn though, on what could be his last ever appearance for Germany, was thwarted in his attempt to keep a clean-sheet as Gomes scored wiuth just minutes left.
Figo was the creater as he skipped down the right before floating a perfect ball into the box for Gomes to head home from just a couple of yards out.
Portugal deserved their goal, but it barely registered with the home crowd as they celebrated the bronze medals their players paraded at the final whistle.
Bastian Schweinsteiger was the undoubted hero for the home side as he scored two and created the other.
After a goalless opening half, Germany went ahead with their first attack of the second 45 as Schweinsteiger's drive beat Ricardo just before the hour mark.
Petit then scored an own goal just minutes later before Schweinsteiger scored a wonderful third as he fired into the top corner from 25-yards.
Nuno Gomes's late header was no more than a mere consolation for Portugal as Germany celebrated their success.
A fairly open first had seen Portugal begin the brightest, but their pretty football could not find a way through.
Indeed Germany created the first opening as Sebastian Kehl unleashed a volley from Christoph Metzelder's knock-down - but it flew wide off Nuno Valente - although home appeals for a penalty were rightfully waved away.
Portugal should then have taken the lead just after the ten-minute mark when Pauleta broke clear into the area but captain for the evening Oliver Kahn read the situation and he saved low-down to his left as the Paris Saint Germain star opened himself up looking to curl the ball home.
Germany were looking the more likely and Kehl was again trying his luck, this time with an audacious lob from the edge of the area which needed Ricardo to scramble back and tip over.
Young player of the Tournament Lukas Podolski looked bright and he fired in a terrific free kick, but it was too close to Ricardo who palmed it clear.
Deco finally broke out of his malaise as he picked up the ball on the edge of the area and looked for Kahn's far corner - but he was relieved to see it float just over.
Simao then missed a clear cut chance to put Portugal ahead just before the break as Deco curled a corner into the box - and the Benfica man was completely unmarked in the six-yard area but he failed to make contact when he should have scored.
With Armando Petit on for Costinha - wisely withdrawn with a booking hanging over his head - Portugal began pushing more numbers on from midfield and Maniche won a dangerous free kick on the edge of the box, but Simao could not find the target.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal's main threat whenever he touched the ball, then fed Pauleta into the box, he turned Jens Nowotny but could only fire tamely at a grateful Kahn.
Suddenly more than ten minutes into the second period, Germany ventured forward for the first time and subsequently took the lead.
It was all Schweinsteiger's own work as he broke from the left flank, skipped past Paulo Ferreira and Simao before unleashing a wicked swerving drive which beat Ricardo - although he may well feel disappointed not to have got something on it.
Suddenly with the whole stadium in full voice, Germany were revitalised and Philip Lahm was next to try his chance as Miroslav Klose crossed from the left to find the Bayern Munich defender - who unleashed a dipping volley, only for it to fly wide. Germany maintained the pressure and within minutes the lead was doubled and it was again down to Schweinsteiger. Podolski was brought down by Ferreira on the right and Schweinsteiger unleashed a sizzling drive into the area and Petit could only deflect the ball into the net as he tried to clear.
Portugal did not give up the ghost as Ronaldo played Deco into the box and Kahn was very relieved to see the side netting bulge.
In search of a goal Luiz Felipe Scolari brought on Gomes, but to little avail and so with 15 minutes left Luis Figo was on for his last ever international appearance.
Portugal continued to probe and Ronaldo forced Kahn to palm it clear - but they never looked like beating the Bayern Munich veteran.
There was little doubt that Schweinsteiger was Man of the Match following his involvement in the first two goals - but he put the icing on the cake as he fired home a sensational third.
Again coming off the left flank he swept past Petit before firing into the corner - this time leaving Ricardo with no chance at all. Moments later he was taken off to a deserved standing-ovation as Germany began celebrating the third place.
Still Kahn was needed to keep Portugal at bay, firstly to prevent Metzelder from putting through his own net and then from a Ronaldo free-kick which was hit with fantastic pace.
Kahn though, on what could be his last ever appearance for Germany, was thwarted in his attempt to keep a clean-sheet as Gomes scored wiuth just minutes left.
Figo was the creater as he skipped down the right before floating a perfect ball into the box for Gomes to head home from just a couple of yards out.
Portugal deserved their goal, but it barely registered with the home crowd as they celebrated the bronze medals their players paraded at the final whistle.
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