|
Ronaldo and Brazil World Cup kings
YOKOHAMA, Japan (CNN) -- Ronaldo was the hero as Brazil confirmed their position as the kings of football with a 2-0 World Cup win over Germany. It was Brazil's fifth title and they were deserved winners of an entertaining match before 72,000 fans in Yokohama, Japan, and a TV audience estimated at 1.5 billion. Ronaldo, 25, scored both goals and crowned a magical comeback following two years laid low with injuries. He finished the tournament with the Golden Boot award for the top marksman -- eight in seven games. "I worked for two years trying to recover from injury and today God reserved this for me and the Brazilian team," he said. ('Better than sex') After the final whistle the whole Brazil squad linked hands in prayer before captain Cafu, the first man to play in three finals, stood on a pedestal and held the golden trophy over his head.
Victory also confirmed coach Luis Felipe Scolari as a national hero having shaped his team from their shaky qualifying campaign into undisputed world beaters, winning all their games in the finals. Now Scolari, who was only employed until the end of the tournament, is taking a week off to consider his future. It was the first time the two most successful nations had played each other in the 72-year history of the tournament. Ronaldo of Inter Milan set the party going on 67 minutes, slamming home a loose ball after Germany keeper Oliver Kahn had spilled Rivaldo's shot. It made amends for a terrible miss in the first half. But it was Kahn's first error having been the tournament's outstanding keeper, conceding just one goal on the way to the final. "There is no consolation," said Kahn, the 33-year-old captain. "It was the only mistake I made in seven games and it was brutally punished." (Kahn's agony) Ronaldo, dazed and defeated after the final against France four years ago, sealed victory 12 minutes later, finishing a sweet passing move with a crisp low shot into the corner. He was substituted a minute from the end to a standing ovation. Germany, three times champions, had gone into half-time level having led a charmed life. Ronaldo pushed the ball wide after being put clear inside the penalty area from Ronaldinho's pass on 19 minutes. Then a minute before the break Kleberson's shot smacked the bar and seconds later Kahn saved Rivaldo's snap shot with his legs. But Germany came out after the break and charged forward. Jens Jeremies' goalbound header was blocked by Edmilson. Then Oliver Neuville's 35-metre swerving free-kick was pushed onto his left-hand post by the diving keeper Marcos. They never gave up even after slipping 2-0 behind and Marcos had to be at his best to deny substitute striker Oliver Bierhoff. In Germany, hundreds of thousands of German fans had packed town centres and bars to watch the match. Some could not hold back the tears as their team slipped to defeat. (Fans' reaction) But in Rio de Janeiro, thousands of beach-goers danced in their bathing suits and yellow Brazil jerseys to the music of samba drums before a giant-screen TV on Copacabana beach. (Brazilians party) Brazil Marcos; Lucio, Edmilson, Roque Junior; Cafu, Gilberto Silva, Kleberson, Ronaldinho (Juninho, 85), Roberto Carlos; Ronaldo (Denilson, 89), Rivaldo Germany Oliver Kahn; Torsten Frings, Thomas Linke, Carsten Ramelow, Christoph Metzelder; Bernd Schneider, Jens Jeremies, Dietmar Hamann, Marco Bode; Oliver Neuville, Miroslav Klose (Oliver Bierhof, 74) Referee Pierluigi Collina (Italy) |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RELATED STORIES:
Better than sex says 'new Pele'
June 30, 2002 Agony of 'world's best goalkeeper' June 30, 2002 Brazil dances to dazzling triumph June 30, 2002 Groans as German dream is denied June 30, 2002 RELATED SITE: Note: Pages will open in a new browser window
External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.
WORLD CUP TOP STORIES:
Euphoric return for Brazil Ronaldo and Brazil World Cup kings Agony to ecstasy for Kahn Brazil dances to dazzling triumph Cheering crowds take to the streets (More) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Back to the top |
© 2003 Cable News Network LP, LLLP.
A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service is provided to you. Read our privacy guidelines. Contact us. |