It’s a proper final after all
By SHAUN CUSTIS
GERMANY versus Brazil - now THAT is a World Cup final.
The > Oompah > bands against Latin American rhythms.
Last week, you could have bet on South Korea v Turkey - which certainly does not sound like a final.
Thank heavens we were spared that. For all the eccentricities of this competition and shocks, like Senegal beating France and the USA overcoming Portugal, the world order has been restored.
Underdogs rarely make the final. It is 40 years since the last one - Czechoslovakia, in 1962. And neither the Koreans, nor the Turks yesterday, seriously suggested they were worthy of being in Yokohama.
Instead, the most successful teams in the history of the competition will do battle on Sunday.
This is their seventh final each yet, incredibly, they have never before met at any stage in the tournament - despite playing 171 matches between them.
Incredibly, there has only been one final since the war that has not featured one of them - the 1978 showdown between Holland and Argentina.
Germany will be looking to even the score. Brazil have won the trophy four times to their three.
Expect all the old arguments to continue. The older generation will not have it that either of these sides is any good compared to their predecessors.
There is no one among the Germans like Beckenbauer or Muller, apparently.
And if you dare put Rivaldo or Ronaldo in the same category as Pele or Rivelino you get a good verbal slapping.
Brazil may look good in patches - but, hey, they are not playing against much.
That is the argument. The younger generation will never win the debate so it is pointless having it.
You can only be as good as in your time and, in Ronaldo, Brazil have the king of the strikers.
Mind you, he will come up against the man who is surely the world’s No1 keeper, Oliver Kahn.
To think England managed to stick five past him last September.
It speaks volumes that he put that horror behind him - and strode this World Cup stage like a colossus. Brazil must be favourites, especially with Ronaldinho due to return having missed the semi after being sent off against England.
That will give Brazil the extra attacking option they did not possess against the Turks - and they have the added bonus that Germany’s midfield inspiration, Michael Ballack, is suspended.
One thing you can count on: > The Germans will not let Brazil keep the ball and pass it around for fun the way England did.
Auf dem 5-1 reiten die Engländer aber auch immer sehr gerne rum. Das steht bei denen überall im Zusammenhang mit dem Finale! Aber ansonsten gehts ja 
