Sport | Football
There's still a high value in that match: Siegler
The third-place playoff will remain a World Cup fixture because, at least according to soccer's governing body, the losing semifinalists still have something to play for.
- AP
- Published: 00:00 July 6, 2006
Berlin: The third-place playoff will remain a World Cup fixture because, at least according to soccer's governing body, the losing semifinalists still have something to play for.
"There's still a high value in that match," Fifa communications director Markus Siegler told a news conference yesterday, the morning after Germany lost 2-0 to Italy in a semifinal game at Dortmund.
Instead of contesting a final in its capital on Sunday at the Berlin Olympic stadium, Germany will have to regroup for a playoff for third the previous evening at Stuttgart.
France and Portugal were to meet later yesterday in the other semifinals, with the winner advancing against Italy and the loser to face Germany.
The usual criticism of the third-place match is that the teams are deflated after losing semifinals and rarely perform at their peak.
"If you speak to players, for them it still matters whether they finish third or fourth," Siegler said. "This particular case, in which we have the German team involved, I'm pretty sure this will be another great match.
"There's still prestige, it's still about the team knowing we finished third on the field of play." Local organisers are yet to announce the star performer for a 10-minute closing ceremony that will precede the final.
With the host team knocked out of contention after a stirring campaign, the revelry that has followed each of Germany's wins turned to disappointment.
Germany 2006 organisers reported no major trouble after the Dortmund match, but reflected the national mood.
"We regret the team is now playing in Stuttgart. We would have loved them to be playing in Berlin but congratulations to the Italians for a great match," said local organising committee spokesman Gerd Graus.
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