World Cup 2006 hosts Germany have beaten Portugal 3-1 in Saturday's World Cup third-place play-off at the Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion in Stüttgart.

After a goalless first-half, two second-half goals from Sebastian Shweinsteiger and an own-goal from Portugal’s Petit gave Germany a comfortable lead, with Nuno Gomes scoring a consolation for Portugal in the dying minutes of time.

Both teams started the game brightly, with neither side willing to give much space to play, and both sides tentatively testing each other out.

Everton defender Nuno Valente had a German appeal for a handball in the penalty area in the 4th minute waved away by the referee, with Germany pushing harder as the first-half progressed, with chances for Bastian Schweinsteiger, Miroslav Klose and Torsten Frings, before Portugal started to come in to the game.

Deco had a free-kick that came close, but it was Pauleta who should have opened the scoring for Portugal after latching on to a great through-ball from Benfica’s Simao Sabrosa halfway through the first-half, but Germany keeper Oliver Kahn, making his last appearance for Germany, stood large to save well.

There were a mass of free-kicks being awarded for petty fouls as the half wore on, with Lukas Podolski almost scoring from an indirect free-kick.

The end of the second-half saw both teams playing some good end-to-end attacking football, but with neither side being able to capitalise.

Costinha came off at half-time for Petit, with Portugal starting the second-half the more dominant in possession, with Sabrosa and Pauleta both having shots, but it was Germany that took the lead in the 56th minute, with a wonderful long-range strike from Bastian Schweinsteiger after a great run at goal, which swerved as it flew past the flailing arms of Ricardo in the Portuguese goal.

Germany doubled their lead just four minutes later, after a period of sustained pressure, with another shot (this time off-target) from Schweinsteiger, which was deflected into his own net by Portuguese defender Petit to make it 2-0.

Portugal weren’t to be beaten yet, and Deco almost pulled a goal back minutes later, but Kahn, who was on top-form, made a great save to deny him.

There was a flurry of substitutions from both sides midway through the second-half, with veteran captain Luis Figo coming on for Pauleta, with fifteen minutes to go to make his final appearance for Portugal.

This rallied Portugal, with Cristiano Ronaldo forcing Kahn into another fine save from his close-range strike.

Bastian Schweinsteiger won the match for Germany with 12 minutes to go, with yet another great individual goal that was as spectacular as the first, scoring with another belter from 25-yards after making another great run down the left-wing, only to be substituted seconds later.

Portugal still pushed hard for a goal, with some long-range attempts from Petit and some decent attempts from Cristiano Ronaldo.

They almost found a way through after a great run from Sabrosa down the left-wing and crossing well, but Nuno Gomes’ attempt was deflected away by the leg of the oblivious Oliver Kahn.

Portugal did get a consolation goal two minutes from time, quite suitably from the man making his swansong, Luis Figo, after a pinpoint cross from the Inter Milan winger, which was met perfectly for substitute Nuno Gomes to head home at the far-post to make it 3-1.

The game finished that way, with Germany taking third-place in the World Cup Finals, and with an international farewell to both Luis Figo and Oliver Kahn.