28 June 2002, 15:10 Seoul - Tokyo
All
the numbers on Germany - Brazil
by
FIFAworldcup.com
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Germany
against Brazil. The mere names suggest a classic Final, and yet the two teams
have never met at a FIFA World Cup™. Here we compare a few of the figures.
This is the seventh Final
for both teams. Brazil are four-time champions (1958, 1962, 1970 and 1994),
while Germany have lifted the FIFA World Cup on three occasions (1954, 1974 and
1990).
Brazil played their first
international match against a European side back in 1930, but it wasn't until
1963 that the finalists of the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan first met on the
football field.
The teams have met 18 times
before today, and if the Final remains true to form then it should be a stroll
for the South Americans. The men with the magic in their boots boast 11
victories to Germany's mere three. The other four matches were draws.
The last encounter between
Brazil and Germany came on July 24, 1999, when Germany were soundly beaten 0:4
in the FIFA Confederations Cup.
But what about the
statistics from this FIFA World Cup? The two teams sit at the top of the
goalscoring table. Brazil have already scored 16 goals, conceding just four.
Germany have found the net 14 times and, incredibly, have conceded just once,
making their defence the most successful of the 32 teams at this FIFA World
Cup.
The Final will also see the
battle for the Golden Boot, as strikers from both sides currently head the top
scorers' table. Ronaldo has scored six times so far, whilst team-mate Rivaldo
and Germany's Miroslav Klose are both on five.
Not surprisingly, Germany
have collected more yellow cards than any other team. Germany have a reputation
of being very physical, so the 17 cautions in six games do not come as such a
shock. Brazil have been shown just six yellow cards so far.
Torsten Frings and Dietmar
Hamann have been the biggest thorns in the side of their opponents, with 51 and
45 tackles respectively. In the Brazilian team, Gilberto Silva and Lucio have
thwarted the opposition more often than their team-mates with 44 tackles a
piece.
Superstars Rivaldo and
Ronaldo have been the victims of most fouls. Rivaldo has been stopped illegally
on 16 occasions to Ronaldo's twelve. In the German team, Christoph Metzelder
has been fouled 16 times, followed by Miroslav Klose on 15.
No side has been caught
offside more often than Brazil at this FIFA World Cup. They have been foiled by
the flag of the referee's assistant 26 times compared to Germany's 15 offside
decisions. But who will be on the wrong side of things in Yokohama on June 30?
Will Brazil win their fifth title, or will Germany prevail to even the score?