What a thrilling game! Germany team playing with reserves due to illnes and injuries which ruled out key players. Uruguay showing their best - playing till the last moment, and at some point even taking up the lead.
One of the heroes of yesterday's match was for sure German goalkeeper, Hans-Jeorg Butt. It was fourth cap for 36-years old, and the first one on the international stage. Late debut. He was third goalkeeper at Euro 2000 and World Cup 2002. Olivier Khan and Jens Lehmann were ahead of him. The both don't play with the team any more, but Butt didn't became the no. 1.
Germany struggled with problems with goalkeepers in qualifiers to World Cup 2010. Robert Enke was supposed to become the no. 1, but he died tragically in November 2009, committing sucide. Injury ruled out Rene Adler, who was another candidate. The no. 3, Manuel Neuer, become the first-choice.
In the the third-place play off Loew gave Butt a chance. It was not only his first cap on the World Cup but also his last and he helped his team to won the bronze medal. He made very good saves, and the lost goals were not his fault. I liked the most the save when he stoped Diego Forlan twice. Also very good one to one save of Cavani's shot. For sure this match will be a nice memory for him.
Well, now a bit about Muslera. To put it nicely, his perfromance was far for being good. I'm afraid few will remember his good performance in the group stage matches and his penalty saves in the quarterfinal with Ghana. He didn't looked best when Uruguay lost the first goal. He saved Schweinsteiger's shot form the distance, but the goal was scored on the retake. But then again, where the defenders were to support the goalie? How many times others goalkeepers were slippery when it come to stop Jambulani and the defernders were on the place to clear the ball?
The worst was yet to come. Muslera fatally misjudged the cross when the second goal for Germany was scored. A goalkeeper just cannot commit a mistakes like this, not on this stage. Well, Julio Cesar did the same in Brazil - Netherlands match, but it's Julio Cesar, he is one of the best anyway, and can be sure about his postition. Muslera is at the beginning of his career and I wonder if his fatal performance might cost him a place in the goal in the national team.
Well, going to follow Muslera in Lazio anyway ;)
According to ESPN stats Butt and Muslera made 4 saves each.
Hans-Jeorg Butt
Fernando Muslera
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