SAMI KHEDIRA settled this humdinger to seal third spot for Germany at the World Cup.
The defensive midfielder nodded in an 82nd-minute winner as both sides put on a brilliant showpiece ahead of Sunday's final.Thomas Muller gave Germany the lead before Edinson Cavani levelled and Diego Forlan smashed Uruguay ahead.
Diego Forlan challenges Bastian Schweinsteiger
Diego Forlan volleys Uruguay 2-1 up
But goals from Marcell Jansen and Khedira turned it around to give the Germans a deserved victory.
Forlan could even have won it in added-on time but his free-kick rattled the bar.
With nothing to play for, you would think both teams would have held back to avoid injuries before the start of the new season.
But someone must have forgotten to tell young German left-back Dennis Aogo.
He was lucky to stay on the pitch after his horrendous fourth-minute challenge, which left Jorge Fucile in agony.
Forlan tried his luck with two consecutive free-kicks as Cacau was judged to have handled his first effort in the wall.
But he failed to trouble 36-year-old Germany keeper Hans-Jorg Butt, who was handed just his fourth cap in place of Manuel Neuer.
Germany turned the screw and began to pile towards the Uruguayan goal.
Defender Arne Friedrich headed against the bar from Mesut Ozil's corner.
And as they cranked up the pace another notch, the pressure eventually told.
Bastian Schweinsteiger, sitting deep in midfield, smashed a swerving strike from 35 yards and Fernando Muslera could only parry.
Muller was there to tap in as he made a perfectly-timed follow-up run.
But that did not dishearten the plucky Uruguayans who were back level just 10 minutes later.
Schweinsteiger made possibly the first mistake of his brilliant tournament as he was dispossessed by Diego Perez in midfield.
Perez found Luis Suarez and his perfectly-weighted ball to his left was prodded home calmly by Cavani.
Uruguay continued to pose a threat on the break and Suarez missed a glorious chance to take the lead but screwed wide when through.
They did not hold back after the break either and were rewarded when Alvaro Perreira burst down the right wing.
His cross found Forlan, who instinctively volleyed into the ground and into Butt's goal.
But for all Uruguay's endeavour, they did seem to have a weak link in keeper Muslera.
His failure to command his box and deal with high balls proved crucial as Germany went level again.
Jerome Boateng - switched to right-back for the match - curled a tempting cross to the back post which Muslera flapped at.Jansen nodded in to equalise and leave the match wide open.
It was clear neither side fancied extra time or penalties and Uruguay's potent attack looked most threatening.
Forlan was denied by Butt before Suarez blasted over from the edge of the area.
Germany threw on Stefan Kiessling in place of Cacau and the lanky striker narrowly failed to connect with a diving close-range header.
But his presence did prove vital as Khedira grabbed the winner.
Uruguay could not handle another floated corner into the box and after it pin-balled off two players, Khedira was there to head in.
It was just reward for the midfielder who had done so much of the donkey work for the Germans during the tournament.
Kiessling should really have wrapped up the victory but somehow managed to blaze over in the dying minutes.
Forlan could even have won it in added-on time but his free-kick rattled the bar.
With nothing to play for, you would think both teams would have held back to avoid injuries before the start of the new season.
But someone must have forgotten to tell young German left-back Dennis Aogo.
He was lucky to stay on the pitch after his horrendous fourth-minute challenge, which left Jorge Fucile in agony.
Forlan tried his luck with two consecutive free-kicks as Cacau was judged to have handled his first effort in the wall.
But he failed to trouble 36-year-old Germany keeper Hans-Jorg Butt, who was handed just his fourth cap in place of Manuel Neuer.
Germany turned the screw and began to pile towards the Uruguayan goal.
Defender Arne Friedrich headed against the bar from Mesut Ozil's corner.
And as they cranked up the pace another notch, the pressure eventually told.
Bastian Schweinsteiger, sitting deep in midfield, smashed a swerving strike from 35 yards and Fernando Muslera could only parry.
Muller was there to tap in as he made a perfectly-timed follow-up run.
But that did not dishearten the plucky Uruguayans who were back level just 10 minutes later.
Schweinsteiger made possibly the first mistake of his brilliant tournament as he was dispossessed by Diego Perez in midfield.
Perez found Luis Suarez and his perfectly-weighted ball to his left was prodded home calmly by Cavani.
Uruguay continued to pose a threat on the break and Suarez missed a glorious chance to take the lead but screwed wide when through.
They did not hold back after the break either and were rewarded when Alvaro Perreira burst down the right wing.
His cross found Forlan, who instinctively volleyed into the ground and into Butt's goal.
But for all Uruguay's endeavour, they did seem to have a weak link in keeper Muslera.
His failure to command his box and deal with high balls proved crucial as Germany went level again.
Jerome Boateng - switched to right-back for the match - curled a tempting cross to the back post which Muslera flapped at.Jansen nodded in to equalise and leave the match wide open.
Forlan was denied by Butt before Suarez blasted over from the edge of the area.
Germany threw on Stefan Kiessling in place of Cacau and the lanky striker narrowly failed to connect with a diving close-range header.
But his presence did prove vital as Khedira grabbed the winner.
Uruguay could not handle another floated corner into the box and after it pin-balled off two players, Khedira was there to head in.
It was just reward for the midfielder who had done so much of the donkey work for the Germans during the tournament.
Kiessling should really have wrapped up the victory but somehow managed to blaze over in the dying minutes.
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