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The Under-17 team of the German Football Federation (DFB) finished the FIFA U-17 World Cup Korea 2007 in third place. In the "small final" the Germans won 2-1 (1-0) over Ghana in Seoul. A stoppage-time goal from substitute Alexander Esswein helped Germany decide the game.
"Being brought into the game and then scoring the winning goal in the last minute feels fantastic. I am overjoyed that we finished third place," matchwinner Esswein said after the encounter.
The first goal came in the 17th minute. Following a foul 25 yards from goal, which earned Philip Boampong a booking, Germany captain Toni Kroos stepped up to take the a free-kick. With a four man wall blocking sight of the goal, the Bayern Munich midfielder curled around the wall and inside the post for his fifth goal of the tournament.
Heiko Herrlich's side, who lost the semifinal to Nigeria 1-3, had further opportunities to score as the half came to a close. Jonas Strifler's rasping drive from distance was just off target, while Kevin Wolze dragged a shot off-target when well placed.
In the second half, with Germany standing a little deeper, the Africans found it difficult to create chances. Yet Sellas Tetteh's side did not give up and equalised the score when Ransford Osei heading home Abeiku Quansah's cross in the 67th.
Kroos forced Joseph Addo into two saves, as Germany stepped up their efforts for a winner and it came in added time. The playmaker was given too much space in the centre of the pitch and ran at the Ghana defence before slipping the ball to substitute Esswein who clipped the ball into the net. Esswein was shown the red card for two bookable offences, but it took no tarnish off Germany's late victory.
"Fantastic to have been rewarded"
After the victory coach Heiko Herrlich was satisfied: "I think one could see, that we wanted to decide the game pretty bad. After the break we were put under pressure, therefore it was impossible to prevent the equaliser. Then we brought two quick strikers, because we wanted to decide the game in regular time. Certainly we are happy about the third place."
Germany captain Kroos was relieved "It is fantastic, that we have been rewarded with third place after playing such a good competition. Naturally we would have preferred playing the final, but in a tournament like this one, you cannot afford any weakness."
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Nigeria won final
Nigeria decided the final against Spain in overtime and won the World Cup. Franz Beckenbauer and FIFA president Joseph Blatter gave out the awards at the medal ceremony.
Kroos voted best player of the tournament
Germany captain Toni Kroos was voted the best player of the World Cup, while Nigeria's Macauley Chrisantus took the Golden Shoe as the tournament's top scorer. The Bayern Munich player received 26 per cent of the votes, which was carried out by the accredited journalists who attended the final between Spain and Nigeria. In addition to finishing as the seven-goal leading marksman in front of Ghana's Ransford Osei and Kroos, Chrisantus also pocketed the Silver Ball, with Spain's Bojan judged the third most outstanding player.
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The Under-17 team of the German Football Federation (DFB) finished the FIFA U-17 World Cup Korea 2007 in third place. In the "small final" the Germans won 2-1 (1-0) over Ghana in Seoul. A stoppage-time goal from substitute Alexander Esswein helped Germany decide the game.
"Being brought into the game and then scoring the winning goal in the last minute feels fantastic. I am overjoyed that we finished third place," matchwinner Esswein said after the encounter.
The first goal came in the 17th minute. Following a foul 25 yards from goal, which earned Philip Boampong a booking, Germany captain Toni Kroos stepped up to take the a free-kick. With a four man wall blocking sight of the goal, the Bayern Munich midfielder curled around the wall and inside the post for his fifth goal of the tournament.
Heiko Herrlich's side, who lost the semifinal to Nigeria 1-3, had further opportunities to score as the half came to a close. Jonas Strifler's rasping drive from distance was just off target, while Kevin Wolze dragged a shot off-target when well placed.
In the second half, with Germany standing a little deeper, the Africans found it difficult to create chances. Yet Sellas Tetteh's side did not give up and equalised the score when Ransford Osei heading home Abeiku Quansah's cross in the 67th.
Kroos forced Joseph Addo into two saves, as Germany stepped up their efforts for a winner and it came in added time. The playmaker was given too much space in the centre of the pitch and ran at the Ghana defence before slipping the ball to substitute Esswein who clipped the ball into the net. Esswein was shown the red card for two bookable offences, but it took no tarnish off Germany's late victory.
"Fantastic to have been rewarded"
After the victory coach Heiko Herrlich was satisfied: "I think one could see, that we wanted to decide the game pretty bad. After the break we were put under pressure, therefore it was impossible to prevent the equaliser. Then we brought two quick strikers, because we wanted to decide the game in regular time. Certainly we are happy about the third place."
Germany captain Kroos was relieved "It is fantastic, that we have been rewarded with third place after playing such a good competition. Naturally we would have preferred playing the final, but in a tournament like this one, you cannot afford any weakness."
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Nigeria won final
Nigeria decided the final against Spain in overtime and won the World Cup. Franz Beckenbauer and FIFA president Joseph Blatter gave out the awards at the medal ceremony.
Kroos voted best player of the tournament
Germany captain Toni Kroos was voted the best player of the World Cup, while Nigeria's Macauley Chrisantus took the Golden Shoe as the tournament's top scorer. The Bayern Munich player received 26 per cent of the votes, which was carried out by the accredited journalists who attended the final between Spain and Nigeria. In addition to finishing as the seven-goal leading marksman in front of Ghana's Ransford Osei and Kroos, Chrisantus also pocketed the Silver Ball, with Spain's Bojan judged the third most outstanding player.
