STUTTGART (Reuters):
MIDFIELDER BASTIAN Schwein-steiger scored two goals and forced the other as World Cup hosts Germany beat Portugal 3-1 to claim third place yesterday.
Schweinsteiger fired home his first goal of the competition from long range in the 56th minute to put Germany ahead.
Five minutes later, a Schwein-steiger free kick was deflected into his own net by Portugal midfielder Petit, a halftime substitute.
Schweinsteiger added a third with a similar effort to his first in the 78th minute, the ball flying into the top right corner.
Substitute Luis Figo created Portugal's consolation score, crossing perfectly from the right for Nuno Gomes to head home from close range two minutes from time.
Both sides had chances in an evenly balanced first half after Portugal surprisingly left captain Figo out of the starting line-up and Germany made six changes to their team.
Germany midfielder Sebastian Kehl saw his shot deflected narrowly wide in the fifth minute and then produced a 25-metre chip which back-pedalling goalkeeper Ricardo did well to tip over.
Ricardo also turned away a piledriver shot from Lukas Podolski following a free kick.
At the other end, Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, making his first appearance at the World Cup after being relegated to the bench for the serious part of the tournament, denied Pauleta in the 15th minute.
Pauleta was sent clean through by Simao Sabrosa's pass, but Kahn rushed out of his goal to block the Portugal striker's side-footed effort.
Pauleta, who has managed only one goal, also wasted an excellent chance in the 53rd minute when he shot weakly at Kahn with Ronaldo free and screaming for the ball to his left.
