Germany-Brazil key battles

Klose (left) or Ronaldo could win the Golden Boot

Germany v Brazil - Final | Yokohama
Sun Jun 30 2002 | 12:00 BST
BBC One and Radio Five Live

Brazil are comfortable favourites to beat Germany and win their fifth World Cup Final.

The three Rs - Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho - will all be in the Brazil team on Sunday.

They have been the most potent attacking force in the tournament and have scored 13 of their team's 16 goals.

Germany skipper Oliver Kahn has a gut feeling that he will be going home with the winner's trophy.

But if his instincts are to prove correct his team will have to win a number of key battles.

---

Oliver Kahn v Ronaldo

The tournament's two best players pitched against each other in the final.

Germany have only conceded one goal during the finals but without a series of brilliant saves from Kahn it could have been a very different story.

Fifa World Cup All- Star team

He has also been an assuring presence at the back and inspirational skipper - but he will have to be at his very best if he is to halt Ronaldo's irresistible charge towards the Golden Boot.

Kahn has been the Tournament's best keeper

The Brazilian has scored six goals so far in the tournament and beguiled opposition defenders with his movement, strength and dazzling tight control.

It seems almost inevitable that chances will come Ronaldo's way on Sunday.

But if Kahn can continue his sensational impervious form and pull off a string of fine saves, his team will remain in the contest.

It could be the key battle of the final.

---

Dietmar Hamann v Ronaldinho

If Oliver Kahn has been the star of Germany's World Cup campaign then Dietmar Hamann has been his team's unsung hero.

He has provided excellent protection for his defence, breaking up opposition attacks in their infancy and winning alot of possession inside his own half.

Hamann may not catch the eye with mazy runs but when his team have been defending slender leads close to full-time is it usually Hamann who foils the other team.

Hamann is an excellent defensive shield

Ronaldinho, on the other hand, loves to run at the opposition defence from deep positions - as he demonstrated against England.

Picking the ball up in his own half, it took the 22-year-old a matter of seconds to dance through England's defence and lay the ball off for Rivaldo to score.

Ronaldinho - who is available again after suspension - is the type of player that Hamann has been frustrating throughout the tournament.

But Hamann has not come up against anyone boasting Ronaldinho's flair.

---

Miroslav Klose v Lucio

If Germany want to win the World Cup final they will need to score.

Miroslav Klose is his team's top scorer with five goals and still in with a shout of winning the Golden Boot.

The race for the Golden Boot

But he has not hit the back of the net since the group stages while midfielder Michael Ballack scored in the 1-0 wins over the USA and South Korea.

Lucio has had an accomplished World Cup

Ballack, though, is suspended for the final - leaving Germany looking to Klose to rediscover his goalscoring touch.

Lucio will be out to stop Klose.

The Brazilian central defender gifted Michael Owen a goal during his team's quarter-final match with England.

But apart from that error he has enjoyed a solid tournament, not only defending well but exciting the crowds with his surging runs forward.

They both play in the German Bundesliga - and last season Klose failed to score when he came up against Lucio.