I’m one of the lucky Australians who’s managed to escape the 4.30am kick-offs to a more ‘sleep-friendly’ timezone in Germany during the past month’s World Cup. That’s been brilliant for me, but being here has also allowed me to witness the German mood evolve first-hand to the strange state it holds ahead of the curious event that is the ‘third place playoff’.
As several writers have discussed on The Roar previously, Die Mannschaft have taken the 2010 World Cup by storm with their bright, youthful and attacking brand of football in South Africa. It’s been a pleasure to behold.
Enjoying it amongst the masses in German bars and public viewing centres has been an experience to remember. Especially after big victories over England and Argentina.
Following the 4-0 Argentina rout, I think I began to truly understand World Cup fever as Germany geared up for the semi-final with Spain. Even though Spain have dominated international football over the past two-to-three years, I got the feeling the Germans genuinely believed they could win the game with their exciting brand of football and go onto lift the trophy.
Indeed, the sense of anticipation about this game was intense.
And so was the experience of sitting on a corner-side Cologne bar amongst German fans watching Carles Puyol power in a second-half header to condemn Die Mannschaft to consecutive World Cup semi-final exits. Ouch!
But the World Cup isn’t over just yet for Die Mannschaft and the German fans.
There’s one more game to get through… the traditional third place playoff which will take place tonight in Port Elizabeth, although I can tell you first-hand the widespread sense of excitement in Germany has really died down… along with the ’54, 74, 90, 2010′ songs.
Looking at the tradition of it, the third place playoff was introduced by FIFA in 1934 in Italy, the second ever World Cup, where it was who else but Germany who claimed bronze.
Interestingly, that World Cup was played in a straight knockout format, which is a lot different to how the tournament runs these days.
Nevertheless, the third place playoff has been played at every World Cup since (bar the 1950 World Cup which employed an odd group format to decide the winner).
Now, though, some people are suggesting FIFA banish the concept of the third place playoff.
As my experience in Germany right now tells me, it is a strange occurrence. The fans don’t know what to make of it. Some Germans who I’ve spoken to said they won’t even watch it!
I, for one though, would never turn down another opportunity to watch a World Cup game and suitably can’t wait (and I’m sure there’s many others who’d echo that sentiment), but there’s no doubting the third place playoff is a strange event.
It’s one of the very few World Cup matches in the history of the tournament which has absolutely no potential bearing on the eventual winner.
The presence of that element, however unrealistic it may be sometimes, always adds a lot of value and intensity to World Cup matches.
When it’s not there in a third place playoff, the event loses a lot of it’s attraction.
The playoff is quite cruel on the players too, who only a few days earlier had their World Cup dreams crushed, to be forced to take the field again for a game which may mean little to them.
Then again, Uruguay may not see it like that, along similar lines to Turkey and South Korea in 2002, or Croatia in 1998.
In this instance, Miroslav Klose may be itching to take to the field as he’s one goal shy of equalling Ronaldo’s record of most World Cup goals overall.
And perhaps it’s here where there’s the most contentious point of all, with whether or not Klose’s goal/s in the match should count. Maybe that’s a debate for another day.
For me, though, while the intensity of a World Cup match isn’t always present in the third-place playoff, there’s little harm in the game and it provides a good little curtain-raiser for the final.
Plus there’s no shame in taking home the bronze.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
I reckon that having the losing semi-finalists play off for the 3rd spot is a pointless exercise. Although today's game was entertaining, we all knew it meant nothing - more like a "friendly" than a tournament final. I reckon if you ask the people who count - i.e. the players - they'll tell you they would rather go home once the semi-final is lost. I doubt they even want to watch the final from the stands.
darwin stubby
Guest
well the game this morning should quieten the critics .... excellent and entertaining right down to the last kick of the game which bounced off the German crossbar ...
jimbo
Guest
Its a tournament like the Olympics and the bronze medal is more valued than fourth place. It will probably be as good a game as the final in some ways and is usually more open and attacking. I will be watching it and I'm really proud for Uruguay who have a great history in the tournament and will always be remembered by Aussies for the 2005 WC qualifier. Congratulations too for the young German team, who did much better than expected and have set up an interesting and expectant four years for German football till Brazil 2014.
Apelu Tielu
Guest
It's a pointless match. Sadly, rugby has been following some of soccer's dim witted ideas.
Brett McKay
Expert
Ben, it's an interesting question, and one that innevitably crops up this time every four years. the same applies to RWCs too. The RWC version is traditonally an open, running affair with plenty of tries, quite obviously a product of the teams wanting to provide a bit of entertainment at the end of the tourney with no pressure. If the FIFA version is played similarly open and entertainingly, then I'm sure the true fans appreciate it for what it is...
sheek
Guest
Axel, According to the Dalai Lama, if you lead a decent life, then in your old age you can enjoy the pleasure of your life all over again. I would suggest finishing 3rd IS a big deal. Maybe not at the time, but years later, when the disappointment has subsided, there will be great pride in finishing 3rd. Even finishing 4th is a big deal. Tell all the Olympic bronze medallists their medals mean nothing. Maybe to you, but not to those who sweated & sacrificed to win them. In fact to me, anyone who competes at the Olympics is a winner. Ditto, any team that makes the world cup finals (top 32) is a winner.
Axel V
Guest
I'm sure they did. But historically when we refer back to South Korea or Turkey's success in 2002, we always refer to them as reaching the semi finals.
Andyroo
Guest
Only in the case of big nations, i'm pretty sure Turkey and South Korea both wanted to win in 2002
Axel V
Guest
The 3rd place winner is the first loser of the tournament. No-one brags about coming 3rd in the major football tournament. The world cup finalists are always remembered, no-one ever cares about 3rd. It's better to say they've reached the Semi final rather than achieving 3rd.
Dominic Herzberg
Roar Rookie
I don't know to who you actually talk in Germany, but I don't think it was the majority. Everybody I talked to is curious to see the game. I expect a great game, Schweinsteiger and Özil are running for the golden ball, Klose needs a goal to get equal with Ronaldo and Müller runs for the best youngster. This will be a pretty nice game and I'm totally looking ahead to it. Don't take comments the day after we lost to spain too serious, Germany is a football nation and as we have to wait another month till the league will start, this will be the last game to watch for a pretty long time. In the European cup we won 3:1 against Portugal and that was also the game about the third place which was pretty entertaining.
sheek
Guest
I'm a fan of the 3rd/4th playoff. Being 3rd in the football world is nothing to sneer at, nothing at all. It might actually mean more to Uruguay than Germany, so there's danger there for the Germans, who should be 3rd. Besides, it's character building - the ability to come back from bitter disappointment & pick up a lesser prize. In this way it mimics life. It's not how many times you get knocked down that counts, but how many times you pick yourself right back up again. Assuming we're all interested in becoming better people, of course.....