The 2006 World Cup in Germany
A booksmusicfilmstv.com surreal take on the footie fest in Germany
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A supportive Stuttgart crowd saw Germany's notable World Cup campaign end on a high, especially for Bastian Schweinsteiger, who thumped in two wonderful long range strikes in the second half.

Portugal probably had the better chances in the first half, with Oliver Kahn making a good save from Pauleta in the penalty area, and then Deco turned and curled a shot just over. Portuguese 'keeper Ricardo made good saves from Sebastian Kehl and Lukas Podolski, while Miroslav Klose's shot also went just wide for Germany in the first half.

In front of German sporting legends Franz Beckenbauer and Michael Schumacher, the hosts weren't about to let the home crowd down, and it was Bayern Munich's Schweinsteiger who really lit up the game in the second half. On 56 minutes he ran across the Portuguese defence, before sending in a swerving 25 yard rocket, which deceived Ricardo to the extent he couldn't get a hand to the ball. Shortly afterwards, Philipp Lahm nearly emulated Marco van Basten's memorable strike in the 1988 European Championship final, when volleying a Klose cross just over. But a second German goal wasn't long coming. Schweinsteiger's low, driven free kick was turned into his own net by the outstretched right leg of Portugal's Petit. Schweinsteiger, though, wasn't finished yet, and when he cut inside a Portuguese defence which hadn't learnt its lesson, he smashed in another shot from 25 yards, which curled away from Ricardo into the right hand corner. It was Schweinsteiger's last contribution, and he left the field to a standing ovation.

German veteran Kahn was also distinguishing himself in the German goal, in the second half, making a great save from a Deco shot, and saving well from Cristiano Ronaldo's 35 yard free kick. Sabrosa Simao's free kick had also just gone over for Portugal, and they definitely deserved a goal at least. A consolation goal came, after a wonderful cross from substitute Luis Figo on the right saw another sub Nuno Gomes convert with a diving header at the far post. It was to be Figo's last meaningful moment of his great international career, and he and Kahn fondly bid their farewells to each other, and maybe it'll be the last time we see the charismatic Oliver Kahn in internationals, too.

Germany can be proud of their World Cup performance, and with a younger team than has often been the case in recent years, it should be onwards and upwards. As for Portugal, they pass the ball as well as any team in the tournament, but they need to address their failure to score goals. Why Nuno Gomes didn't play more is a mystery. With him alongside Pauleta, they may have progressed past the semi final.

- Paul Rance/booksmusicfilmstv.com.