Brazil, Germany to play for World Cup title

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Posted 7:28AM on Thursday, June 27, 2002

YOKOHAMA, JAPAN - It's the missing matchup, the game soccer has waited 50 years to see. Brazil and Germany, the sport's most dominant nations, have never met in the World Cup - until now. And what a place for their first meeting - in the final, for the trophy, with all the world watching. ``It will be a dream matchup,'' Brazil's Roberto Carlos said after his team beat Turkey 1-0 Wednesday to move into its third straight final. A night earlier, Germany defeated South Korea by the same score in Seoul. Brazil has won four of the last 12 World Cup titles and Germany three. Their players are among the most prized in the world. But, strangely, they've avoided each other in soccer's showcase. No Pele vs. Sepp Maier. No Franz Beckenbauer vs. Gylmar. ``Both teams have a great tradition,'' Brazilian forward Rivaldo said. ``If Brazil wants to be champions, we have to respect Germany. Not fear them, respect them.'' It's an unlikely time for the debut meeting, given that both nations struggled in qualifying and were considered by some long shots to even reach the quarterfinals. Brazil was just 9-6-3 in qualifying - unheard of mediocrity in the land of samba soccer - getting in only with a victory over lowly Venezuela in its final game. Germany needed to beat Ukraine in a playoff to make it. ``Nobody really expected us to even go to the round of 16,'' Germany coach Rudi Voeller said. Brazil, won the title in 1958, 1962, 1970 and 1994, praised much of the time for its flair-filled attacks. West Germany captured the championship in 1954, 1974 and 1990, sometimes denigrated for its lack of imagination - and ability to flop in front of officials to gain unwarranted penalty kicks and restarts. There's little doubt which style most fans prefer. At its best, Brazilian soccer is a painter's palette. At its worst, German soccer is a wrecking ball, shattering opponents with brute strength and bland-but-effective relentlessness. ``Despite the criticisms that were leveled at us because of the lack of style, lack of flair, in actual fact we implemented the coach's instructions,'' Germany's Michael Ballack said after the semifinal win. Ballack, who scored the only goals in the quarterfinal against the United States and in the semifinal, will miss Sunday's game while serving a suspension for getting two yellow cards. Brazil seems surpremely confident going in. ``It will be a match between the most attacking team and the most defensive team, who has only given away one goal,'' Roberto Carlos said. ``The game will focus on the defensive tactics.'' In the past decade, the nations have met five times, with Brazil going 3-1-1. The Brazilians won 3-1 at home in a 1992, tied 3-3 at Washington's RFK Stadium the following year, and Germany won 2-1 at home in 1993. Brazil won 2-1 in a 1998 game in Germany, then routed an understrength German team 4-0 at Mexico in the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup, with Ronaldinho scoring on a penalty kick. The midfielder returns for the final after serving a one-game suspension. In the 1993 game in Washington, Germany fell behind by three goals for the first time in eight years, then rallied in 93-degree heat as Juergen Klinsmann scored twice. Overall, Brazil leads the series 11-3-4, outscoring the Germans 34-18. On neutral soil, Brazil is 2-0-1. ``The final against Germany will be relatively easy for them,'' Turkey coach Senol Gunes said.