For both teams this is the culmination of a highly successful tournament. But while some might have expected Germany to go this far, nobody counted on Uruguay. Not since 1970 have they been in this position and then they faced the same German opposition in the third-place play off. Then, they were beaten 1-0, a result most would expect now. However, they have the pride of South America to play for and will at least have Luis Suarez’s return from suspension after his handball against Ghana. Their manager, Oscar Tabarez, has promised “a fight to the death” which is not the usual language before a game that is more of a friendly than anything else. 

Germany are a country that takes third-place play-off matches pretty seriously. Four years ago, they were determined to finish off a World Cup on their own soil by taking the bronze medal position. Nobody will be more motivated than Miroslav Klose, who may be still afflicted by the back injury that hampered his performance in the semi-final with Spain, but who needs one more goal to emulate Ronaldo as the greatest goal scorer in the history of the World Cup. However, Philip Lahm and Lukas Poldolski are both afflicted by flu as is their manager, Joachim Low.

Throughout this World Cup, German television audiences have been entertained by the predictions of Paul the Octopus. Paul who lives in an aquarium in Germany has been given two boxes of food before each one of Germany’s games. If he opens the one with the German flag first it has been taken as a sign of victory for the Mannschaft. Paul has been right throughout this World Cup, even chosing the box with a Spanish flag before the semi-final and this time he has selected Germany. And that is good enough for us. Verdict: Germany to win.