Germany and Uruguay met in Brisbane with both sides looking for
points to clinch a spot in the quarters. Both nervously looking over their
shoulder to see Ghana looming large.
	Germany had the misfortune of going behind after only 2 minutes when
a punch out by the keeper was recovered by Uruguay and Lemos tried to hit
home from a widish angle. Wache could only parry the ball, one he should have
held, and presentd Luis Lopez with an easy goal which he gratefully accepted.
Werner Protzel had an attempt at an equaliser turned past the post by the
Uruguay keeper. Uruguay with the early goal in the bank sat back and waited
for anything the Germans could throw at them and in all honesty there wasn't
much imagination in the attack of Germany. The form they showed against
Ghana all but gone. Perhaps they too were waiting, the Uruguay team fade
very quickly in the latter stages of the games they play and are vulnerable
at the end. As a spectacle this match was instructive only in the sense that
it makes better matches look great. Dieter Hamann tried for a long range
goal with little luck and it summed up the match, with long range efforts
the order of the day for Germany.
	Uruguay could well be pleased with their effort at half time, they were
ahead and the Germans weren't looking too dangerous. The second half had
Germany continue with their tactics and Uruguay had one or two excursions
into the German area but also failed to capitalise. Germany effectively went
out of the tournament in the 64th minute thanks to a brain overload by the
German keeper Dimo Wache, you may not see this name again in a hurry. A long
pass to a lone Correa was met just outside the area by Wache who then tried
to side foot the ball to one of the two defenders near him. Showing a distinct
lack of passing skills he gave the ball directly to Correa who then had a few
anxious moments as he wondered whether his shot over the keeper would come 
down in time to go into the net. It did. What a joke!
	To their credit the Germans began to show a little more initiative
and the Uruguayans didn't help themslves when Lopez was sent off in the 66th
minute for a second yellow. He was part of a very restless wall on the goal
line after the referee awarded an IFK for too many steps taken by the keeper.
Uruguay were lucky not to get more cards shown to tem in the arguing which
followed. Sadly, on this occasion Germany couldn't convert. However the 73rd
minute was kinder when Carsten Ramelow crossed the ball to Andre Breitenreiter
after his first cross was blocked. Breitenreiter backheeled the ball, more
out of neccessity than cheek, past the keeper at the near post. Ramelow was
initially set free by a pass from Hamann. Schmidt almost levelled the game
but Sergio Martinez displayed more skill than his counterpart in the german
goal. In truth the loss of Eberl through suspension and Jorres through injury
hurt the Germans more than they might wish to admit. Schwiederowski also blew
his chance to pull the game out of the fire for Germany after his header
went over the bar from a Lieberknecht corner kick. Germany are out of the
tournament but much as I wish it wasn't so they only have themselves to blame.

	Uruguay 2 (L Lopez 2, F Correa 64) - Germany 1 (A Breitenreiter 73)