Ronaldo leaps out of the way of Emre's tackle (Allsport)

By Mark Bradley, PA Sport Chief Soccer Writer, Saitama

Ronaldo's four-year journey from the Stade de France to Yokohama has been painfully hard, tortuous at times, but the chance for redemption is at last close at hand.

The Brazil forward ensured his return to a World Cup final with a flash of inspiration as he struck the semi-final winner against Turkey to ensure that the 2002 tournament retained its glamour.

A final against Germany, amazingly the first time the two countries have met in the World Cup, is the showpiece event that even this tournament of shocks desperately needed.

For while both countries ironically struggled to qualify, the final pits the best attack against the best defence, but also ensures the eyes of the world will be fixed upon Yokohama on Sunday.

Most importantly of all, Brazil, with their fast-flowing movement, natural skills and vibrant colour, offer the hope that class will eventually prevail.

Just as with Ronaldo.

David Beckham would understand the emotions that will be flooding through the striker's mind over the next few days, with the chance to avenge the harsh memories of four years ago.

At France '98, the way that Ronaldo struggle his way through the World Cup final while patently unfit or unwell was painful to watch.

Having at first not appeared on the team-sheet following an apparent seizure earlier that day, he was then named in a hastily-revised list but may as well not have bothered running out onto the pitch.

Thereafter, his career spiralled downwards amid a plethora of injury problems before he finally started the long recovery process.

Now, with six goals to his name at this World Cup so far, Ronaldo is able to proclaim that "the nightmare is over".

He is, in truth, being a little presumptuous. For not until has he turned it on in the World Cup final against Germany will he ever be able to be quite that definitive.

Just to add to the script, injury worries still exist. But while the risk on him four years earlier had patently failed, this time the gamble in Saitama came up trumps for Brazil.

That Ronaldo was not fully-fit against Turkey was obvious from the first minute as he trundled around as if in a trance following his recent thigh problem.

Indeed, for 45 minutes, as Rivaldo dominated the entire game, Ronaldo remained almost eerily quiet. Not that he was really called upon.

For however much endeavour Turkey showed, they lacked the pace up front to trouble the Brazilian defence as their coach Senol Gunes showed blind faith in the ageing Hakan Sukur.

Only a header by Alpay seriously troubled keeper Marcos, while his counterpart Rustu Recber had to fend off not only Rivaldo but also efforts from Roberto Carlos and Cafu as they tore at Turkey down the flanks.

At one point, Cafu's shot actually deflected off Rustu's body onto the ground and then bounced over the bar.

The keeper also pushed one drive by Rivaldo around the post and then saw another fly just past the upright. Still the breakthrough did not come.

Cue Ronaldo. Those who had doubted him had a rude awakening just four minutes after the break as he came alive in an instant.

Having jinked inside one defender, he sped past two others and, fast running out of space, fashioned a toe-poke with his right foot that not even Rustu's fingertips could prevent from its path just inside the far post.

Thereafter, Ronaldo was the magician supreme, setting up first strike partner Edilson, who struggled to match the inspiration of Ronaldinho, and then Kleberson.

Their finishing prowess was, however, found wanting but Ronaldo's job was nevertheless already complete.

Either unable to continue or saved for the final, he limped off with 23 minutes left. His impact had lasted all of 20 minutes, but what a 20 minutes it was.

His replacement, Luizao, promptly sent an acrobatic bicycle kick over the bar but Turkey, with Muzzy Izzet now on, were unable to make the most of that largesse.

Gunes finally brought on the pacy Ilhan Mansiz but, unlike the quarter-final, when his substitute scored the golden goal winner against Senegal, this time he was not saved from his futile faith in Sukur.

Roque Junior flung himself into a saving tackle on Mansiz, who also headed a late chance over the top, while Marcos parried a dangerous volley by Sukur.

By the end, however, Turkey simply could not even win possession of the ball as, at one point, three players were chasing in vain after substitute Denilson.

The statistics told a one-sided story, with Brazil's 11 shots on goal corresponding with Turkey's three. Only one of those had gone in, however, and that was Ronaldo's.

His aim between now and the final on Sunday is simple.

It would not be the first time that the potentially dangerous mix of fitness concerns, a World Cup final and Ronaldo had come together.

Expect a few twists and turns before the final denouement. For his sake, however, let us hope for a far different outcome this time around.

Teams:

Brazil: Marcos, Lucio, Roque Junior, Edmilson, Cafu, Kleberson (Belleti 85), Gilberto, Carlos, Rivaldo, Edilson (Denilson 75), Ronaldo (Luizao 67).

Subs Not Used: Ceni, Dida, Juninho Paulista, Junior, Kaka, Polga, Ricardinho, Vampeta.

Booked: Gilberto.

Goals: Ronaldo 49.

Turkey: Rustu, Akyel, Korkmaz, Alpay, Ergun, Davala (Izzet 73), Basturk (Erdem 88), Tugay, Emre (Mansiz 61), Sas, Sukur.

Subs Not Used: Abdullah, Asik, Nihat, Okan, Omer, Ozat, Tayfur, Unsal, Zafer.

Booked: Tugay, Sas.

Att: 61,058

Ref: K Nielsen (Denmark).