Third/Fourth place playoff/ Germany 3 Portugal 1: Hosts Germany bowed out of the World Cup on a high on Saturday, defeating Portugal 3-1 in the third-place match with two goals from Bastian Schweinsteiger. The 21-year-old scored with two spectacular long-range efforts and hit a powerful free-kick which was deflected into his own net by Portugal midfielder Petit.
Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn announced his retirement from international football after the game in Stuttgart. Portugal midfielder Luis Figo and striker Pauleta also announced their international retirements.
Kahn lost out to Jens Lehmann in the battle to be number one but Klinsmann chose him to express his thanks for the mature way in which the Bayern Munich player dealt with the decision.
Figo, Fifa's World Player of the Year in 2001, won his 127th cap, a record for Portugal, as a substitute against Germany.
Pauleta, also 33, is Portugal's all-time leading scorer with 47 goals in 87 appearances.
Germany went ahead in the match with Schweinsteiger's first goal of the competition from long range in the 56th minute. Five minutes later, his free kick was deflected into his own net by Petit, a half-time substitute. The young midfielder struck again in the 78th minute, his fierce strike flying into the top right corner.
Nuno Gomes got a late consolation goal for Portugal, heading home from close range two minutes from time.
Germany coach Klinsmann is under growing pressure to stay in his post after surpassing expectations at this World Cup with a team featuring many young players such as Schweinsteiger. But Klinsmann, who lives in California, said he wanted more time to consider his future. "A lot has happened in the last two years. I need to come to terms with it," he said.
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