Either Brazil or Germany can win, but only one with flair
06/29/2002
World Cup 2002 looks increasingly like a stirring horse race –
albeit one where the ponies shot forward too fast and tuckered out a
little coming down the stretch.
A tournament that pulsated for the first and second rounds slowed
considerably in the cautiously contested quarterfinals and semifinals.
Both of the survivors in Sunday's final, the 64th and final match of
Korea-Japan 2002, escaped from the semis with 1-0 wins.
Now, Brazil has the opportunity to rescue the tournament for a sagging
finish. It will have to, for Germany really can't. The three-time
champion Germans, disciplined and determined as ever, may match
freewheeling Brazil's record of four World Cup titles. But even if they
top off Korea-Japan with one final upset, it will come via grit and
trademark German tactical efficiency.
Heavily favored Brazil, meanwhile, wants not only to win but to win with
style.
Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho (the Three R's) have ability aplenty to
light up the ending of Asia's first World Cup, a tournament that blazed
with early-round upsets and heartfelt stories.
There was unsung Senegal's rise and well-regarded Portugal's and
France's dramatic, premature falls.
There was scrappy Ireland willing its way into the second round without
its best player, Roy Keane, who left in a huff and emerged appearing
childish. There was England's young squad putting the world on notice
for Germany 2006.
There were South Korea's awesome fans, who all but carried their beloved
squad into the World Cup semifinals with roaring passion (aided by some
dubious refereeing boners).
There was the United States, a sleeping giant, suddenly wide awake and
making Mexico pay.
There were conspiracy theories spilling ad nauseam from Spain and Italy.
(What, by the way, did the referees have to do with Italy's Christian
Vieri and Gennaro Gattuso missing easy chances to secure victory vs.
South Korea before an officiating decision could taint the outcome?)
What's left is a good matchup for the history books – but maybe not for
soccer fans. Germany and Brazil, the sports' all-time premier
heavyweights, have never met in the World Cup. That adds a historical
marker to Sunday's breakfast special (6 a.m. kickoff in Dallas).
This is the seventh final for each team. Brazil lifted the trophy in
1958, 1962, 1970 and 1994. Germany did so in 1954, 1974 and 1990.
The teams last met in July 1999, when Brazil crushed the Germans, 4-0,
in the FIFA Confederations Cup (a made-for-TV-profit event that doesn't
even qualify as World Cup Lite).
Still, that game helped convince German soccer leaders to finally let go
of the aging roster and the notion that soccer there didn't need
mending. Germany began developing a new guard. Now, players such as
Miroslav Klose (age 25) and Christoph Metzelder (22) are fronting
goalkeeper Oliver Kahn's heroic efforts.
Germany has scored 14 goals in the tournament. But eight came in one
game, when Saudi Arabia stood around as virtual witnesses. Coach Rudi
Voeller's bunch has just six goals in five games since. Kahn has been
faultless behind an adequate defense that has conceded just one goal in
six tournament games.
Brazil, meanwhile, has poured in 16 goals in six games. What does that
tell you?
You don't have to be EPSN analyst Tommy Smyth to know that the Germans
will try to ugly-up Sunday's match. They'll plod forward, pulling balls
out wide and looking to serve high crosses as soon as they get 40 yards
from Brazil's goal.
They'll fight ferociously to win corner kicks and free kicks, then
direct all that focus, efficiency and physical play – they're just so
darned, well, German – into gaining a restart goal. Then, it's
Greta-bar-the-door and keep the Brazilians out while they hang on for
the ol' 1-nil victory.
The one German player with any imagination – any brains in his feet, if
you will – is suspended and won't play. Young playmaker Michael Ballack
(25) picked up his second yellow card of the second round Tuesday's
against South Korea. His subsequent, mandatory one-game suspension
strips the DFB (loose translation: German Soccer Federation) of any
chance to be inventive on the attack.
The Brazilians, however, should provide plenty of imagination.
Ronaldinho will return for Brazil, adding one more piece to the Samba
Soccer kings cast of fast, twisting, dribbling wizards. Former U.S.
defender Alexi Lalas once laughed about trying to stop the tricky
flashes of yellow and blue as they zoomed around "at 100 miles per hour."
For the tournament's sake, for the legacy of Korea-Japan to close with
the finish it deserves, Brazil may have to go 105 mph in this one.
