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Castrol World Cup Penalty Debate: Will Magnificent Mesut Oezil Keep His Nerve Or Could Uruguay's Sebastian Abreu Chip Away At Germany's Record?
Who are the likely candidates to step forward in Port Elizabeth?
Jul 9, 2010 3:22:00 PM
By Stephen Darwin
The 2010 World Cup comes to a conclusion over the weekend with first, second and third place to be decided in what should prove an exciting climax to the tournament in South Africa.
With Uruguay coming up against Germany in the third-place play-off on Saturday, Goal.com UK, with the help of the Castrol Edge Penalty Analysis tool, predicts who could step into the spotlight should the game go all the way to a penalty shoot-out.
Germany, notoriously lethal when it comes to penalty shoot-outs having not lost one in World Cup finals history, certainly have plenty of attacking talents that will likely put their name forward if the shoot-out scenario should arise.
Lukasz Podolski may have already missed from the spot in the 2010 World Cup against Serbia but will undoubtedly possess the necessary bottle to step up against the Uruguayans. That said, with five of his last seven penalties put to the goalkeeper's left, Muslera may just fancy his chances of keeping the Koeln striker out.
Depending on the fitness of Miroslav Klose, one would expect the Bayern Munich man to take one while Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mesut Oezil are both plausible options for Joachim Loew.
The industrious Thomas Mueller is another candidate, although Piotr Trochowski's perfect penalty record of scoring six out of six for his club side Hamburg may just see him on the list - even if he does, as expected, start the match on the substitutes' bench.
Young and seemingly in-demand goalkeeper Manuel Neuer will be attempting to shut out the Uruguayans and, having saved four out of 10 penalties faced for Schalke (including two in a Champions League shoot-out win over Porto back in 2008), he could prove Germany's match winner in the event of the game going beyond extra-time.
| Bet: | Returns: | Russia £23.00 | Draw £32.00 | Uruguay £28.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Russia £22.00 | Draw £30.00 | Uruguay £30.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Russia £22.00 | Draw £32.00 | Uruguay £32.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Russia £23.80 | Draw £32.50 | Uruguay £30.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Russia £23.00 | Draw £32.00 | Uruguay £28.50 |
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Uruguay v Germany
Saturday 10 July, 1930 BST
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Saturday 10 July, 1930 BST
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Uruguay can boast that they are one of only two teams to have won a penalty shoot-out in South Africa, which could arguably give them the edge should penalties materialise in Port Elizabeth.
Oscar Tabarez's side converted four out of five of their spot kicks in their controversial quarter-final triumph over Ghana, although it's unlikely that the exact same five takers will be called upon once again against the Germans.
Atletico Madrid star Diego Forlan, undoubtedly one of the shining lights of the World Cup, will no doubt step up while Luis Suarez, banned for his handball against the Ghanaians, could also get the chance to score from 12 yards.
Cheeky? Yes. Sublime? Yes. Risky? Almost certainly, but Sebastian Abreu, who so coolly dinked the winning penalty past Richard Kingson to book Uruguay's semi-final place, will surely take another on Saturday while Edinson Cavani and another successful taker against Ghana, defender Mauricio Victorino, may also step up.
Fernando Muslera will stand between Germany and their hopes of securing third place if we should go to a penalty shoot-out and having kept out two penalties during the victory over Ghana, he'll be confident of repeating the feat once again come Saturday.
Oscar Tabarez's side converted four out of five of their spot kicks in their controversial quarter-final triumph over Ghana, although it's unlikely that the exact same five takers will be called upon once again against the Germans.
Atletico Madrid star Diego Forlan, undoubtedly one of the shining lights of the World Cup, will no doubt step up while Luis Suarez, banned for his handball against the Ghanaians, could also get the chance to score from 12 yards.
Cheeky? Yes. Sublime? Yes. Risky? Almost certainly, but Sebastian Abreu, who so coolly dinked the winning penalty past Richard Kingson to book Uruguay's semi-final place, will surely take another on Saturday while Edinson Cavani and another successful taker against Ghana, defender Mauricio Victorino, may also step up.
Fernando Muslera will stand between Germany and their hopes of securing third place if we should go to a penalty shoot-out and having kept out two penalties during the victory over Ghana, he'll be confident of repeating the feat once again come Saturday.
Five likely takers - Uruguay
 Forlan |
 Suarez |
 Cavani |
 Victorino |
 Abreu |
Germany, notoriously lethal when it comes to penalty shoot-outs having not lost one in World Cup finals history, certainly have plenty of attacking talents that will likely put their name forward if the shoot-out scenario should arise.
Lukasz Podolski may have already missed from the spot in the 2010 World Cup against Serbia but will undoubtedly possess the necessary bottle to step up against the Uruguayans. That said, with five of his last seven penalties put to the goalkeeper's left, Muslera may just fancy his chances of keeping the Koeln striker out.
Depending on the fitness of Miroslav Klose, one would expect the Bayern Munich man to take one while Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mesut Oezil are both plausible options for Joachim Loew.
The industrious Thomas Mueller is another candidate, although Piotr Trochowski's perfect penalty record of scoring six out of six for his club side Hamburg may just see him on the list - even if he does, as expected, start the match on the substitutes' bench.
Young and seemingly in-demand goalkeeper Manuel Neuer will be attempting to shut out the Uruguayans and, having saved four out of 10 penalties faced for Schalke (including two in a Champions League shoot-out win over Porto back in 2008), he could prove Germany's match winner in the event of the game going beyond extra-time.
Five likely takers - Germany
 Podolski |
 Schweinsteiger |
 Oezil |
 Trochowski |
 Klose |
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