Mueller eyes prize, but would prefer World Cup

Germany midfielder Thomas Mueller is the favourite to be voted the best young player at South Africa 2010 but has admitted winning the World Cup would have been a better prize.

The 20-year-old has been short-listed by a FIFA committee for the award won by team-mate Lukas Podolski four years ago along with Mexico s Giovani Dos Santos and Ghana s Andre Ayew.

After Germany were beaten 1-0 by Spain in Wednesday s semi-final, Mueller says his side must now win Saturday s third place play-off against Uruguay in Port Elizabeth to finish their World Cup on a high.

I am delighted to be on that list, but winning the World Cup would have been a nicer reward, said the Bayern Munich midfielder.

I think we need a win to leave South Africa on a high.

Having …