It will be a fantasy football final today at the International Stadium Yokohama in Japan when the two best teams from soccer power-houses South America and Europe clash. Asia's first World Cup and the first of the new millennium will pit the flair of Brazil against the efficient machine that is Germany.
It has been called the World Cup of upsets, but statistically this is not the case if we look at the teams which made it through to the end.
Brazil is the four-time champion (1958, 1962, 1970 and 1994), but Germany can equal the South American's record by adding to the titles it claimed in 1954, 1974 and 1990.
PHOTO: REUTERS
They are the most successful World Cup sides and will both be playing in their seventh World Cup finals. For Brazil, it will be the third final in a row, for Germany the fourth in 20 years. Amazingly, Brazil and Germany have never faced off against each other at the World Cup, making this another first for the tournament.
As for the overall record between the two teams, Brazil has the advantage, with 10 wins, three losses and four draws in their 17 matches.
Brazil's Rivaldo said yesterday in Yokohama, "Some people say that if we win the match against Germany, it will prove that Brazil is truly a great team because Germany is such a good team themselves. But I don't believe this is true. If we played Korea or Japan for the final match, the value of our victory would be the same and would be fully recognized."
PHOTO: AP
Possibly, but with due respect, Germany is greater in terms of soccer than either South Korea or Japan.
Germany is not likely to fold like England did in the second half against Brazil and it has more technical ability than Turkey -- which Brazil beat in the semifinal.
This will be Brazil's hardest match and if it is the favorite going into the final, it may suit Germany, which has relished the role of underdog and proved everyone wrong.
World Cup legend Pele commented on the game today, "The two strongest teams are here. This will be a matchup of attackers versus defense, as Brazil has the best attackers and Germany has the best defenders."
Brazil will one again depend upon the "phenomenon" that is Ronaldo, who has scored a total of 10 World Cup goals so far, just two short of Pele's record. Gerd Muller of Germany is the all-time leader with 14 goals. Ronaldo has returned to the peak of his form after four years in the wilderness, since France 1998, when he had convulsions before the final, played as though he was a ghost and then was plagued by injuries that have effectively kept him out of first class soccer until now.
He has repeatedly said "the nightmare is over" and having bagged six goals so far in the competition who would argue with him?
Rivaldo and Ronaldinho, who have both had exceptional World Cups, will support Ronaldo. Between the three of them they have scored 13 of the 16 goals scored by Brazil in six matches. In addition, there is Roberto Carlos, who will be a constant threat in attack and a big help to Brazil's supposedly suspect defense.
Brazil captain Cafu's influence also should not be underestimated. In contrast, the Germans will be relying on their captain and inspiration Oliver Kahn, who is certainly the world's greatest goalkeeper at the moment.
Kahn almost single-handedly won the Champions League and Intercontinental Cup for Bayer Munich last year and could well do the same for Germany on soccer's greatest stage.
Franz Beckenbauer has said that extended time will give Germany an advantage in the final, meaning if it goes to penalties, then Germany will be the favorite because of Kahn.
This could be the gameplan for German coach Rudi Voeller and it could be his best chance of success. Without playmaker Michael Ballack -- who will not start because of a second yellow card picked up against South Korea -- Germany will struggle to push forward and support strikers Miroslav Klose and Oliver Neuville.
Worryingly, perhaps, Germany's top scorer Klose (with five headed goals) has not found the net since the first round, which suggests opposing defenses were able to neutralize his threat.
Two other factors could suggest a Brazilian victory today.
First, World Cup finals are generally high-scoring affairs with an average of four goals a match in the last 16 games -- and if one of the teams is to score the bets must be on Brazil.
Second, if Germany does hold out for penalties, Brazil proved it could rise to the occasion, by beating Italy in the US on penalties in 1994.
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