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Karl
Senior Member
USA
914 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 29 2002 : 10:22:09 AM
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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?
Karl |
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All the numbers on Germany - Brazil
