With the exception of Kahn, Germany has no player who can come close to being selected for the all stars team of this world cup. So they played what they can best, a system that allows the opponent only a few chances. The mastermind behind that system, by the way, is Skibbe, not Völler who plays the front man for the press. Skibbe was not successful as a club coach for the fans hated him. He speaks in too long but nevertheless correct sentences using long foreign words. In other words, he is an intellectual. But as the real coach in the background he is top.

Germany (in the past and now) has seldom played to please the connoisseur but they have the ability to make the opponent look bad. Often it looked as if the other team played at its worst in the game against Germany. The overall record is impressive: Germany did take part in 13 world cups since 1954 and 7 out of 13 times did come into the final. To explain all of that by luck would stress that concept a bit too far.

I had expected Germany to loose against Italy and later against Spain, but somehow these matches were not to be. In the matches that actually were played I had expected Germany to win. The players had that hungry look in their eyes. Now they look drunken (from happiness) and contented. I agree with the experts above that Brazil will win. I don't see Germany scoring against Brazil and though Germany has the best defense that will not be good enough against Brazil. 3 : 0, I'd say.

An additional reason is that Ballack, the only German field player who is able to do the unexpected now and then will be missing in the final. Ballack did either score or prepare two third of the German goals.

By the way, no doubt this time in the German press that the better of the two teams has won.

Wolfgang