Ronaldo, seizing upon a deflected Roberto Carlos shot, was then foiled once more by Kahn's anticipation.When the teams returned, Germany, again, started brightly. Edmilson blocked Jens Jeremies' near-post header then Marcos made a stunning save to push Oliver Neuville's 30-yard free-kick against the post. Neuville also went close from Schneider's pass.Then came Kahn's catastrophe. The goal, Brazil's first in a final since Carlos Alberto's fourth in 1970, forced Germany to chase the game inducing V?r's first tactical error. He brought on Gerald Asamoah to prowl the right flank but, instead of switching to 4-4-2, played him as a wing-back moving Frings into midfield. Two minutes later Kleberson drove down Brazil's right flank, Rivaldo dummied his cross and Asamoah's defensive na?ty was exposed as Ronaldo was left with time and space to roll the ball inside Kahn's left post.

It was his eighth goal of the tournament confirming him as top scorer, the first from the winning side since Paolo Rossi two decades earlier.Germany, whose spirit was illustrated by the blood-soaked socks of Jeremies, who played on after being caught by Cafu, did not give in, but when Marcos made another excellent save from Oliver Bierhoff the game was up. Amid their celebrations, the Brazilians found time to remember Emerson, their captain who broke an arm shortly before the tournament. After lifting the trophy Cafu waved a T-shirt reading "Emerson ­ you also are a winner".It summed up the family atmosphere Luiz Felipe Scolari had engendered, which has been a key factor in their success. Unlike Aim?acquet, France's winning manager in 1998, Scolari, who also suffered much abuse, refused to be triumphalist.In an emotional final statement Scolari said: "I want to thank the Brazilian people We are very touched We are trying to understand the goodwill we all had. And I want to tell my family, I miss them, and to my sons, we are five times world champions." Brazil 2 Germany 0Ronaldo 67, 79. Back in September 1996 Eric Cantona rose at the Elland Road Kop, directly in front of an advertising board for Wilkinson Sword, to head a right-wing cross from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer past Nigel Martyn.

It applied the finishing touch to a 4-0 win for Manchester United It also put Howard Wilkinson to the managerial sword. Two days later the man who signed Cantona for Leeds United and sold him to Manchester United was handed his P45. "The situation with Rio Ferdinand had nothing to do with David leaving the club," the Leeds chairman and chief executive asserted on Friday. It would be more than the life of a Leeds United chairman would be worth, too, judging by the pledge Ridsdale made in the aftermath of O'Leary's hasty departure on Thursday morning.