Brazil coach Mario Zagallo is old enough to remember all but two of the 16 World Cups. He thinks this one will be special.
“You couldn’t imagine a more beautiful final to end the century with,” Zagallo said of Sunday’s match between his team, seeking a fifth world title, and France, seeking a first.
“It’s the dream final, one you’d play on a video game or in the streets,” French forward Thierry Henry said.
Even if defensive realities intrude on the hope for a freewheeling match at the 80,000-seat Stade de France in the Paris suburb of Saint Denis, this final is almost certain to be better than the two nightmares that have preceded it.
Not since 1986, when Argentina beat Germany 3-2, has a goal been scored in the final from active play. Germany won the 1990 final 1-0 on a penalty kick in the 85th minute of an ill-tempered game in which two Argentine players were ejected. Brazil won the 1994 final over Italy in the penalty-kick shootout after a scoreless tie.
It wasn’t always thus. From the first World Cup in 1930 through 1986, no fewer than three goals were scored in a final, and that happened just three times. More typical were the scores of Brazil’s first three victories: 5-2 over Sweden in 1958, 3-1 over Czechoslovakia in 1962 and 4-1 over Italy in 1970.
Soccer teams no longer are inclined to get into a run-and-gun game when the stakes are highest. Even in 1986, Germany was hoping for an 0-0 or 1-1 game and began to attack only because Argentina went ahead 2-0.
For all of France’s desire to play like the Brazilians of Europe, it likely will be afraid to try to beat Brazil at its own game.
“Tactically we can’t match up with them, so we’ll have to focus on our strong points–namely, good defense,” said French captain Didier Deschamps. “They have the best attack in this World Cup. The match will be tactical and physical, but not very spectacular.”
Although France scored nine goals in its three first-round matches, it managed just three more in its three single-elimination matches for an overall average of two per match. Brazil’s average is only slightly higher: 13 goals scored plus an own goal by Scotland.
Brazil captain Dunga, a midfielder who has scored just six goals in his 89 matches for the national team, would like to clone players of his defensive temperament for Brazil’s starting lineup.
“In this final,” he said, “we will need the strength of 11 lions to battle it out on that pitch. Eleven Dungas.”
In the distant past of 1970, Brazil would have preferred a team with 11 Peles, players more preoccupied with creating what Brazilians call “the beautiful game.” That idea died after Brazil failed to make the finals of the next five World Cups.
“I would rather have Brazil play badly and win,” said Bebeto, one of four Brazil regulars who also played in the 1994 final.
In 1994, Brazil won by allowing just three goals in seven matches. It was a team without a strong playmaker so it relied on forwards Bebeto and Romario to make many of the plays for themselves. Romario had five goals, Bebeto three.
In Rivaldo, the 1998 team has a more dynamic playmaker who has scored three goals and assisted on two, although Ronaldo (three) and Denilson (two) have accounted for five of the 10 assists given on Brazil’s goals. It is surprising that left defender Roberto Carlos has neither scored nor made a decisive pass, for his bursts down the flanks consistently unsettle opposing defenses.
Brazil has allowed seven goals in this World Cup, one after Roberto Carlos got too fancy trying to make a scissors-kick clear against Denmark. The match before, against Chile, Zagallo called Roberto Carlos his best player in the match, despite Ronaldo’s having scored twice.
“I think that players like Roberto Carlos make the difference, because he spends more time up front than in back, even if people only talk about Ronaldo and Denilson,” France’s Henry said.
Denilson, 20, who has replaced Bebeto in the second half of every match, has been Brazil’s most electrifying player even though he has played just 214 of 570 minutes. The Brazilian media and public have clamored for Zagallo to use him more, but the coach prefers to have him as a deluxe “joker.”
“My focus is on one thing: giving Ronaldo scoring chances,” Denilson said.
Whether Brazil and France focus on scoring or preventing scoring remains to be seen.
