How Ronaldo punished Germany and put Brazil back on top
The 2014 World Cup semi-final clash between Germany and Brazil is a game good enough for the final, and back in 2002, it was. In not entirely different circumstances to the present day, 12 years ago the Selecao were looking to make up for disappointment at the previous World Cup, under the guidance of Luiz Felipe Scolari.
Germany, meanwhile, were looking for their first World Cup win since 1990, and had somewhat surprisingly made their way to the final in Tokyo, through a combination of typical composure under pressure and a run of fortuitous draws in terms of knockout opponents (Paraguay, USA and South Korea).
The 2002 World Cup final marked the first and, until 2014, only meeting of Brazil and Germany at the tournament. Two of the competition’s powerhouse nations, Germany went into the game knowing that if they won their first final in 12 years, they would draw level with Brazil on four World Cup wins, and move ahead of Italy who also had three. Brazil, meanwhile, could put further distance between themselves and the chasing pack, with an unrivalled five victories, putting the bitter failure of France '98 behind them.
Unlike on Tuesday night, when Brazil will line-up without a forward placed among the best in the world due to the absence of Neymar, in 2002 the South Americans had three in their starting XI. Ronaldinho, Rivaldo and Ronaldo completed as potent an attacking trident as the international game has ever seen, and the latter in particular proved to be the difference in Yokohama.
The 1998 World Cup final had haunted Ronaldo in the four years that followed. After a strong tournament in France, a mystery illness - the details of which are still suspiciously vague - nearly kept the number nine out of the final, but at the last minute he was added once more to the team sheet. Some would say he didn’t turn up, regardless.
Ronaldo struggled, failed to make an impact, and team mates have subsequently bemoaned that preparing to defend set-pieces without him meant that the reintroduction of the forward and subsequent confusion actually made it easier for France to score, with both of Zinedine Zidane's goals coming from corners.
The 2002 final in Yokohama presented a chance of redemption for Ronaldo, but initially it looked like he would fluff his lines for a second time. Though his movement was bright from the start, his finishing was the opposite, and the forward should have tucked away a simple chance from close range made by a typically intelligent run in the 18th minute.
Soon after, he blew another chance after bursting into the box only to misconnect and touch the ball gently into Oliver Kahn’s grateful hands. A third chance was wasted before the first 45 minutes were up.
As the second half rolled on, it looked like the same theme would continue, with chances normally bread and butter for the Inter man somehow made to look impossible. Then, in the 67th minute, after another error on the ball, the striker finally sorted himself out. Robbing the ball from Didi Hamann, he laid it off to Rivaldo and continued his run. His team-mate’s shot could only be parried by Oliver Kahn and, this time, Ronaldo was not only in the right place at the right time, but he hit the target too.
The fear of failing at the second time of asking lifted instantly from his shoulders, and the Fenomeno’s second goal - a far more aesthetically pleasing strike - came soon after. Kleberson’s ball in from the right was dummied intelligently by Rivaldo, falling to the feet of Ronaldo who lay on the edge of the box. With a German defender attempting to make a desperate last-ditch tackle, the Brazilian managed to get his shot away, placing the ball past Kahn from the edge of the area. The goal completed Brazil’s 2-0 victory, Ronaldo was voted man of the match, and his nation claimed their fifth World Cup.
Ronaldo finished the 2002 World Cup as the tournament’s golden boot winner with eight goals, three goals clear of his two nearest rivals. Curiously, along with compatriot Rivaldo, the other player to finish second in the golden boot rankings was Miroslav Klose, who played in the 2002 final and is likely to play a part tonight in the Estadio Mineirao.
The big German, who this summer matched Ronaldo’s record as all-time World Cup top scorer with a 15th strike at the tournament, could pull away and set an entirely new record of his own with a goal against Brazil. There’s more than just revenge for the 2002 final at stake for the Germans, therefore.