BRIDESMAIDS HAVE MORE FUN

Imagine if Toto had scored this is the 1990 final!

The play off for 3rd place is the bridesmaids' chance to show off without the pressure if preparing for the biggest game of all. The bridesmaid can basically have fun and get away with anything; booze, drugs, pleasure with strangers and it all gets forgotten the next day when the final occupies full attention.

There have been some great 3rd place games in recent history; Turkey's 3-2 over Sth Korea in 2002, Croatia's 2-1 victory over the Dutch, Sweden's 4-0 celebration v Bulgaria in 1994, and Germany's 3-1 win over Portugal in 2006. The games are rarely frugal and have a certain joy about them, especially when it is 1990 and the Poms lose 2-1 to Italy via a penalty on 86 minutes.

Uruguay have to lift again after the drama v Ghana and the draining semi v Holland. Suarez is back to partner Forlan upfront, but most expect the Germans to celebrate their unexpected success in the tournament thus far with a win. So does the octopus.

GP