STUTTGART, July 8: Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger scored two goals and forced the other as World Cup hosts Germany beat Portugal 3-1 to claim third place on Saturday.

Schweinsteiger fired home his first goal of the competition from long range in the 56th minute to put Germany ahead.

Five minutes later, a Schweinsteiger free kick was deflected into his own net by Portugal midfielder Petit.

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, 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 Podolski following a free kick.—Reuters