Portugal winger Luis Figo came on as a late substitute, then announced he was retiring from international soccer after the game, his 127th appearance for his country over 15 years.

"This was my last game for the national team," the 33-year-old told Portuguese television. "I'm leaving at a time when Portuguese soccer is at a high point."

Figo seemed displeased with coach Luiz Felipe Scolari's decision not to start him in this game. "It's hard to go out like this," he said.

Scolari, who coached Brazil to the championship in 2002, fell short in his bid to become the only coach to win it with two different teams.

"I feel satisfied and glad with the way things have turned out overall," he said. "At the end, even by ending on a defeat, we're still one of the best four teams in the world. That's a sort of title for us."

German newspapers called this the "Little Final," but it had a big feeling in a stadium awash with Germany's black, yellow and red national colors. One handwritten poster read: "Thanks for being our guest," shorthand for the feel-good factor in this tournament.

The biggest question for Germany is the future of coach Klinsmann. The California resident has been noncommittal about his plans. But even the tabloid Bild, his biggest critic a month ago, has begun a write-in campaign to keep him.

Other newspapers like the Berliner Kurier carried this headline: "Klinsi, please stay." A poster hanging from the team's hotel in Stuttgart read: "Thanks guys for a wonderful four weeks."

One curiosity: this was the first World Cup meeting for the two European soccer powers. Overall, they have now played 15 times. Germany won seven, Portugal three and five were draws.