German coach Joachim Loew deprived striker Miroslav Klose the chance of setting a World Cup scoring record but said he had no option but to leave the flu-stricken player out of the third-place playoff.
Klose, who came down with the virus after Germany's semi-final defeat by Spain on Wednesday, was a goal away from equalling Brazilian Ronaldo's record of 15 goals and the 32-year-old is unlikely to play in the next World Cup.
Loew said clinching third place was Germany's priority and Klose's inclusion could have damaged his side against Uruguay in the third-place playoff, a scintillating match his team won 3-2 after trailing 2-1 at one stage.
"We needed 100 percent from everyone so we couldn't afford to use players who are not fit," Loew said after the win, which capped an impressive tournament for a young and inexperienced team largely written off in the run-up to South Africa.
"This is why we didn't field injured or ill players. It would have been irresponsible. He simply couldn't play, he failed the fitness test," he added.
Klose recently finished one of the worst seasons of his career for Bayern Munich but was one of Germany's best-performing players in the tournament, scoring four of their 13 goals and putting himself in contention for the Golden Boot award.
DEVASTATED KLOSE
Loew said he empathised with Klose, who was bitterly disappointed but had admitted himself that playing in the last match would have been a mistake.
"He wanted to play but he said there was no point because he could only play a few minutes," Loew said. "He could hardly walk. There was no way I could have played him.
"Just imagine his feeling. You want to get a record. He really wanted to play and was absolutely devastated but he knew it was the team that was important."
Attacking midfielder Thomas Mueller and Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan netted in the playoff to draw level in the scoring charts with five goals alongside Spain's David Villa and Dutchman Wesley Sneijder, who are certain to play in Sunday's final.
Mueller's absence through suspension for the semi-final defeat was seen as a major factor in Germany's below-par performance against the Spanish but he insisted his team had proved their worth and could hold their heads up high.
"I couldn't play in the semi-final so it was important to put on a great show and luckily I could contribute to our victory," Mueller said.
"We've shown we can perform at the top level. We've concluded in a very satisfactory way and the German people can be proud."
