| A handful of seconds remain, and Brazil are just passing their way to the final whistle Ziege shoots after Roque Junior is unable to clear... Marcos saves Denilson crosses, Juninho's the target - and isn't found Frings then foils Juninho as he tries to dart through: three minutes of added time to play... Denilson is straight into showbiz mode - he makes a great run down the left which is eventually stopped by Ramelow Denilson will be coming on for Brazil shortly... and two-goal hero Ronaldo is the player who makes way. Quite rightly, he gets a thunderous ovation The free-kick comes to nothing, but now it's just a case of counting down the seconds for Brazil... their fans have started to party already Roberto Carlos takes on Asamoah again... Juninho takes over and is fouled by Hamann midway inside the Germany half The ball's too far ahead of him, and Kahn gathers that... Ziege comes forward and looks for Asamoah. Roberto Carlos is there with a fine challenge The Germans have played well today - but here comes Juninho, looking for Rivaldo once more... Schneider floats a free-kick towards Metzelder... Marcos leaves it, but the Germany defender can't get the crucial touch Change for Brazil now: here comes Juninho, and Ronaldinho makes way Christian Ziege is on for Bode - it's Germany's final throw of the dice Asamoah crosses: Bierhoff gets the ball and raps in a shot. Marcos makes a superb low save... great stop. Hamann follows up with a shot from outside the area, which is wide Linke shoots, Lucio charges it down and took a pretty forceful blow from that... he's dazed Roberto Carlos loses out and Bode comes forward for Germany - they win yet another corner. Can they find a route back into the match? Sublime finishing from, surely, the player of the tournament... he's got eight goals overall now. Dazzling stuff Cafu feeds Ronaldo just inside the area and the finish is cool, calm and perfect. It's 2-0 Brazil - surely they are world champions now! Asamoah's into the action quickly, challenging Roberto Carlos down the left... but here come Brazil again ...until Bierhoff is penalised for a foul, and Brazil grab the chance to move forward. Jeremies goes off and Gerald Asamoah comes on in another Germany switch Hamann tries a long-range free-kick: Brazil block, but Germany are turning up the pressure now... Neuville plays it in and Roque Junior heads it clear for Brazil Frings hits a shot and is rewarded with a corner as the ball deflects away Jeremies looks for the substitute, who then looks to Neuville... Change for Germany: Klose is off and Oliver Bierhoff comes on as boss Voeller tries to refresh his side Great run by Lucio - he motors into the area and crosses, but it eludes the waiting Ronaldo That comes to nothing: a free-kick is given for a foul as Brazil defend the set piece Marcos flips it away, and Germany keep the pressure up to win another corner Frings looks for Bode: Germany come forward again with Jeremies and his shot deflects wide for a corner Brazil clear, and stand a little over 20 minutes from football's ultimate glory The Germans have a corner, which is played deep into the area Perhaps Kahn should have held the first shot - but whatever, it's harsh on Germany, who have played well so far Straight to the other end - Rivaldo hits a vicious shot which Kahn can't hold and Ronaldo is in the right place to tap home the World Cup final's opening goal! ...but Jeremies is back - then Germany play the ball into the area and Brazil get it clear Jeremies, at least, is back on his feet - he limps to the side of the pitch for further treatment Sebastian Kehl is being readied to come into the fray for Voeller's team... He's being treated, but this seems very worrying for Germany... he may well not be able to continue Jeremies and Cafu crunch into a challenge: the German player has come off much worse and looks to be in some trouble Forward come Germany: Neuville can't quite get to the ball as it's threaded into the penalty area Ramelow at the back for Germany: he challenges Rivaldo superbly as the Brazil star tries to take the ball around him Ronaldinho finds Cafu, wide on the right: it's a great pass. The cross, however, doesn't match, being too far ahead of Brazil's forwards Ronaldo hits it - into the wall. Roque Junior is penalised for a foul on Ramelow as Brazil try to pick up the pieces It's fairly central, some 25 yards out... From it, Hamann is penalised for handball - free-kick to Brazil in a very dangerous position Cafu is beaten to the ball by Jeremies: throw to Brazil near the Germany area ...then Hamann shoots from outside the area. It's over the crossbar Metzelder is there as Ronaldo chases a flick forward by Rivaldo... Frings comes forward and crosses too high ...and Frings hits a shot which is wild, high and wide. More good intent from Germany though Klose breaks well - Frings is the target of his square ball across the face of the area... And Klose comes away for Germany... then hits a shot which is woefully scuffed and poses no threat whatsoever Rivaldo finds Ronaldo with a superb pass: Ramelow blocks his attempted shot ...which produces a scramble but, ultimately, a free-kick for Germany after a foul on Kahn ...but here's Ronaldo, wide on the right. It's a corner for Brazil Germany starting this half with the same purpose and verve that they did the first Schneider takes, looking for Metzelder, who is crowded out Both sides have hit the woodwork now: Frings comes forward again and wins a corner He instead hammers a fantastic shot goalwards from a long way out - and it hits the post after a great touch by keeper Marcos Free-kick to Germany: Neuville looking to play this one into the area... At the other end, Ronaldinho moves forward, but once more Germany are so quick to close their opponents down A great chance for Germany - their best of the match so far It falls for Jeremies, unmarked. He heads goalwards and it's blocked... Hamann and Neuville clear, and the final ball forward takes a deflection and runs out for a corner... The second half is under way... Brazil looking to move forward straight away It's the final action of the first half - Collina blows the whistle to end an absorbing first 45 minutes. Goalless - but only just Kahn saves well - real pressure from Brazil as the first half comes to a close Jeremies, the most piratical-looking player in the final - clears, but Ronaldo is there inside the area... Lucio now - Brazil buoyed by that. Kleberson once more... he looks for Lucio, who is crowded out. Suddenly Brazil have upped the tempo, and they win a corner It's an absolutely superb strike, arcing over Kahn - and crashing back off the crossbar Here's Rivaldo, trying to make something happen - Kleberson hits it from the edge of the area... Schneider is fouled: Jeremies lifts the set-piece towards Bode, but he's outjumped Another very presentable chance for Brazil... will they live to regret those misses? Suddenly, Kleberson breaks through... he hits the shot from the edge of the area but drags it wide of Kahn's far post The ball breaks to Jeremies and his fantastic beard, but he lifts the shot over the bar Germany's increasing confidence is shown in some neat, tidy passing. They're keeping possession well and then Frings crosses towards Bode... ...and Brazil clear. Five minutes to the end of what has been an interesting, if so far goalless, final Hamann makes an interception as Ronaldo and Rivaldo look to link... Germany come to the other end and win themselves a free-kick Frings comes forward: Roberto Carlos challenges him and wins the ball well Linke's penalised for a foul... free-kick to the Brazilians Schneider comes back at his marker Gilberto Silva and wins his side another corner on the left... Ramelow on the break for Germany... he hits a shot, which Brazil block ...and Linke is there with another impeccably-timed challenge Ten minutes left until the break, and it's Germany's final so far... but here comes Rivaldo. He looks for Ronaldo... Lucio wins the ball back - and then sees it goes out of play on the right Silva finds Cafu wide on the right - a good challenge by Bode stops that move Ronaldinho fouled on halfway - Brazil have a free-kick Edmilson and Ronaldinho link: Rivaldo is the target for the final ball, which doesn't find him Ronaldinho controls the ball superbly and then plays it towards Kleberson... who can't bring it under control Schneider takes, Marcos punches and Brazil clear. Frings looks to get things going, but is caught offside And Germany go straight to the other end and win themselves another corner Ronaldinho flicks towards Ronaldo - Kahn, so outstanding during this tournament, is there to gather safely Again, crisp passing opened the way for Germany and coach Voeller will surely be delighted with what his team have achieved so far Neuville and Schneider find Bode in a dangerous position - but his control lets him down as he looks set to break into the penalty area Roberto Carlos then makes a good challenge as Frings attempts to exploit more good interpassing Kleberson plays it wide to Roberto Carlos, who drives the ball into the area. It's blocked and then Cafu is unable to keep the ball in play Edmilson heads clear - this is a great opening spell for Germany but can they translate it into a goal? ...but again the Germans snap back at Brazil and win another corner. Excellent play once more... Hamann chases a Frings pass down the right: the cross is towards Klose and is cleared Then Neuville tumbles under challenge from Lucio - he's soon back on his feet Schneider commits a foul as he goes for a loose ball inside the Brazil half - that's another free-kick Lucio comes storming forward for Brazil - his attempted one-two with Ronaldo just fails and Germany can deal with that situation Linke then crosses towards Klose and the ball is headed away: Roberto Carlos finally hammers it further clear Linke for Germany, whose passing has been measured and calm thus far The best chance of the game so far - but, had Ronaldo made it count, a Brazil lead would have been very much against the run of play ...he tries to slip the shot wide of Kahn, but mishits it glaringly and that's a very rare lapse in what has been an outstanding tournament for him Brazil on halfway: Ronaldinho slips the ball into the area for Ronaldo, who is onside and in the clear... It's badly-delivered and dealt with easily... Scolari looking animated on the touchline, as well he might ...Ronaldinho is crowded out on the edge of the box and then Cafu fouls Neuville following another slick Germany move Roberto Carlos charges it down - can Brazil get going here? Just over 15 minutes gone, and they haven't sparked into life... Then Roberto Carlos concedes a free-kick on the right - Germany starting much the stronger here He moves into the middle as Schneider crosses - Edmilson makes a fine challenge to concede a corner A Neuville foul gives Brazil a free-kick inside their own half... Kleberson breaks forward but Germany clear and here they come again with Klose Forward comes Bode... the pass towards him is a little too strong and it's a goal-kick to Brazil ...who mishits his shot from outside the area and sees it easily blocked Neuville is foiled by Edmilson as he tries to get a cross in. Frings finds Schneider, who tees up Hamann... As if to prove the point, Rivaldo chases - rather forlornly - an overhit pass forward Brazil yet to really find their flowing passing: the Germans are doing a good job of closing the ball down and denying space ...but ref Collina halts play for a foul as the corner comes in. More encouraging moments for Germany in the build-up, however Brazil knock the free-kick long: Germany deal with it and break. Schneider crosses dangerously from the right and Brazil scramble it away for a corner. A fine move from Voeller's side Edmilson still looking a little dazed... but he's back on his feet Klose is booked for a challenge on Edmilson, who has gone to ground clutching his face... two early bookings in this final ...but then they let Kleberson in with some careless passing. He shoots low, and Kahn gathers Germany keep the pressure up and win a throw - they'll be encouraged by the way they've started the game Schneider squares it instead - Neuville shoots and it's blocked Ramelow plays it long for Klose, who is trying to move down the right. Edmilson is ruled to have fouled him and Germany can swing this free-kick into the area... ...and then Linke - a good challenge by him. Roque Junior clatters in and is booked Roberto Carlos links with Cafu... now Ronaldo on halfway... and then Roberto Carlos again Schneider flicks, Rivaldo steps in - the Germans clear his pass forward And as Germany venture forward, Klose wins a throw: Bode plays it across and Silva is there to clear Forward comes Kleberson on the right - he swings in a cross and Kahn is in the right place to claim that one Kahn takes the goal-kick long... Brazil come forward, but Klose, near half-way, can let that one run out for a throw It's aimed towards Gilberto Silva, who can't get a proper touch to the ball and sees it skim out of play Germany try to flick the ball on, but Ronaldinho steps in and embarks on a good run - Linke is forced to concede a corner And here we go - Brazil kick off and play the ball forward immediately... it goes behind for a goal-kick to the Germans | |
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