Kahn - in fine form of late (Allsport).

By Reece Killworth

Oh how we England fans laughed.

September 1, 2001.

The very mention of the date conjures up plenty of images from that special night.

Steven Gerrard's long-range strike, Michael Owen running riot and German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn picking the ball out of his net time and time again.

As more than one newspaper commented, that was the night German football died.

But a phoenix has risen from the ashes of that unforgettable evening in Munich.

The defeat by Sven-Goran Eriksson's men brought the Germans together behind manager Rudi Voller.

And Voller has responded by turning his side into a dogged outfit who will complete their remarkable nine-month turnaround by playing in the World Cup final on Sunday.

There - in Yokohama - the immovable object of the German defence will come up against the irresistible force of Brazil.

Kahn has conceded just one goal in the whole of the tournament - Robbie Keane's last-minute leveller for the Republic of Ireland - and he nearly saved that.

Since then, four clean sheets have been kept in four games.

Admittedly the Germans have had a somewhat simpler passage than predicted pre-tournament, but the likes of South Korea and the USA have done enough in the Far East to prove they are more than just up-and-coming outsiders.

And Kahn has been simply awesome both as a captain and as a goalkeeper.

When called upon, he has done everything asked of him and more.

It is often said that the true mark of a world-class keeper is the ability to be out of the game for long periods yet still be able to pull off a spectacular save.

It is something the likes of Peter Schmeichel have shown time and time again down the years, and it is something that Kahn has been brilliant at during this tournament.

If he had not have been named in the All-Star team it would have been a travesty, yet he has not faced his biggest test yet.

Brazil's three-pronged attack – Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho – boast 13 goals between them from just six games.

That is why they are in the final despite earning much criticism for the shakiness of their defence.

Lucio, who caught the eye in the closing stages of the season with a string of superb performances for club side Bayer Leverkusen, has resembled a rabbit stuck in the headlights for much of the tournament while Roberto Carlos and Cafu provide as many scary moments at the back as they do exciting ones in attack.

In midfield, Juninho's recent absence has not caused the Brazilian machine to stutter.

In fact they have looked as irresistible as ever going forward.

Ronaldo has put his woes of the last four years firmly behind him to emerge as one of the players of the tournament while Rivaldo continues to pull the strings in style.

Both men, of course, are in the running for the Golden Boot awarded to the tournament's top-scorer as is German surprise package Miroslav Klose.

But Rivaldo in particular should not be getting too carried away as this could be his toughest game of the tournament.

If he drops off his fellow strikers, as he has done in the earlier matches, the role of Dietmar Hamann will be crucial.

The midfielder was one of the unsung heroes for Liverpool last season and has taken his form into the World Cup.

While Michael Ballack – who will miss the final through suspension – has snatched all the headlines, Hamann and Berndt Schneider have been just as valuable for the Germans.

Hamann is vital to the German cause, screening the defenders, reclaiming possession and doing the spade work in the centre of the park.

In fact, the clash between Hamann and Rivaldo epitomises the battle of styles that will be on show in Yokohama.

In the blue (and yellow) corner will be the panache and style of the Brazilians.

In the red corner, the durability and doggedness of the Germans.

This may not turn out to be a classic final, but it certainly looks an intriguing one.