BERLIN, July 11, (RTRS): German newspapers on Sunday praised the national team for recovering to beat Uruguay 3-2 in the third-place playoff game and for giving the country a shot of patriotic pride that recalled the 2006 World Cup at home.
Many commentators pointed out that the young Germany side should have a bright future after they enjoyed commanding victories over England and Argentina with thrilling attacking play before getting knocked out by Spain in the semifinals.
They also noted with some satisfaction that it was the second straight World Cup that Germany took the ‘bronze’ medal and their third consecutive World Cup among the top three after they finished runners-up to Brazil in 2002.
“Thanks lads for giving Germany one last World Cup celebration,” wrote Bild am Sonntag. “What a wonderful World Cup summer you’ve given us. Joachim Loew has put together a team that has captivated the imagination of all Germany.”
Miriam Nyary wrote that the team gave the country something special — a new-found pride in its immigrant community. The side’s multi-cultural make-up showed Germans and the world that Germany, after years of self-denial, is a nation of immigrants.
“You created something magical on the pitch and gave us all back home in Germany such a thrill watching in the public viewing venues and on TV at home,” Nyary wrote. “From the first minute you electrified us, made us tremble, cheer and weep.
“But it wasn’t just the usual ‘German virtues’ that gave us so much joy... on the fan miles Germans and Turks embraced each other when Mesut Ozil scored the winner against Ghana. This multi-cultural feeling will remain long after the World Cup.”

Oracle octopus
The conservative Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung paid tribute the celebrity octopus who accurately predicted the winner of all Germany’s World Cup matches — including their two defeats.
“Paul the oracle octopus (at Sea Life) in Oberhausen got it right again,” FAZ wrote. “For the seventh straight time at the World Cup, Paul correctly picked the winner of Germany’s match.”
Millions of fans packed public viewing venues and TV ratings hit record levels. Germans dropped their normal reluctance to wave flags with the country’s black, red and gold colours adorning public celebrations across Germany.
The Sueddeutsche Zeitung in Munich said Germany were lucky to beat Uruguay in Saturday’s playoff.
Devastated
Meanwhile, German coach Loew deprived striker Miroslav Klose the chance of setting a World Cup scoring record but said he had no option but to leave the flu-stricken player out of the third-place playoff.
Klose, who came down with the virus after Germany’s semi-final defeat by Spain on Wednesday, was a goal away from equalling Brazilian Ronaldo’s record of 15 goals and at 32 years old is unlikely to play in the next World Cup.
Loew said clinching third place was Germany’s priority and Klose’s inclusion could have damaged his side against Uruguay in the third-place playoff, a scintillating match his team won 3-2 after trailing 2-1 at one stage.
“We needed 100 percent from everyone so we couldn’t afford to use players who are not fit,” Loew said after the win, which capped an impressive tournament for a young and inexperienced team largely written off in the run-up to South Africa.
“This is why we didn’t field injured or ill players. It would have been irresponsible. He simply couldn’t play, he failed the fitness test,” he added.
Klose recently finished one of the worst seasons of his career for Bayern Munich but was one of Germany’s best-performing players in the tournament, scoring four of their 13 goals and putting himself in contention for the Golden Boot award.
Loew said he empathised with Klose, who was bitterly disappointed but had admitted himself that playing in the last match would have been a mistake.
“He wanted to play but he said there was no point because he could only play a few minutes,” Loew said. “He could hardly walk. There was no way I could have played him.
“Just imagine his feeling. You want to get a record. He really wanted to play and was absolutely devastated but he knew it was the team that was important.”
Attacking midfielder Thomas Mueller and Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan netted in the playoff to draw level in the scoring charts with five goals alongside Spain’s David Villa and Dutchman Wesley Sneijder, who are certain to play in Sunday’s final.
Mueller’s absence through suspension for the semi-final defeat was seen as a major factor in Germany’s below-par performance against the Spanish but he insisted his team had proved their worth and could hold their heads up high.
“I couldn’t play in the semi-final so it was important to put on a great show and luckily I could contribute to our victory,” Mueller said.
“We’ve shown we can perform at the top level. We’ve concluded in a very satisfactory way and the German people can be proud.”