Ronaldo - determined to be fit. (Allsport)

By Mark Bradley, PA Sport Chief Soccer Writer, Saitama

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Ronaldo has begun the recovery process aimed at getting close to fitness for the World Cup final as he defiantly shut out the painful memories of his struggle against France four years ago.

The Brazil striker proclaimed that the "nightmare is over" after scoring his side's semi-final winner against Turkey to set up a heavyweight final against Germany.

However, it is not until he has sparkled in Sunday's final that he will truly manage to erase the personal trauma of the 1998 final in the Stade de France.

Having initially been left off the team-sheet following a reported seizure, Ronaldo was then named on a revised list but simply wandered around as if in a daze as France triumphed 3-0.

Since then, he has endured a myriad of injury problems which have threatened his career, only to emerge with six goals in this tournament to leave him as the leading scorer.

The 25-year-old striker insists that he will not allow the pain of 1998 to affect his mind in the build-up to Sunday's game in Yokohama.

"I am not thinking about the last final at all," he declared.

"I just wanted to play in an another final and, to do so, we had to win this semi-final. Now we are just going to play our football and try to win the final."

Ronaldo's priority ahead of that final, which is the first time that Brazil have ever met Germany in the World Cup, is simple - to regain fitness.

He was sluggish during the entire first-half in Saitama against Turkey before emerging in a flash of inspiration to power past a group of defenders and fashion a toe-poke into the far corner four minutes after the restart.

Having then set up team-mates Edilson and Kleberson for chances which they squandered, he left with 23 minutes remaining, presumably to protect an ongoing thigh injury.

"My plans are to recover and rest because this was a hard game. I felt muscle pain in my lower leg and thigh, so my only plans are to recover in time for the final," he admitted later.

Ronaldo deflected claims by Turkey coach Senol Gunes that Brazil would face a "relatively easy" task in beating Germany in the final.

"It will be a very hard game. But the Turkish coach has said too many things and I don't have time to answer them all," he responded.

"He said that Turkey would have an easy game against Brazil but it wasn't like that so I'm sure the final will not be like he said either."

The final certainly pits the tournament's most dangerous attack, especially with Ronaldinho set to return from a one-match ban, against the meanest defence, inspired by keeper Oliver Kahn.

While Brazil have scored 16 times, Germany have conceded just once, although they will have to cope without influential midfielder Michael Ballack due to suspension.

Ronaldo, meanwhile, has finally rediscovered his inspiration.

He may still be far from his own peak form due to a lack of match-sharpness, but he simply bides his time and energy in games before bursting into life.

Against Turkey, Rivaldo dominated the entire first-half but keeper Rustu Recber saved one drive and saw another flashed past the post, while Roberto Carlos and Cafu also came close.

Ronaldo was eerily quiet but Turkey, who laboured too long with the ageing Hakan Sukur before introducing Ilhan Mansiz, only had to take their eye off him for a split-second and he punished them.

It was only later that the man known as 'Il Phenomeno' admitted the real significance of the goal to him.

"It was not just a goal for me, it was a goal for the team as it brought us to the final, but it was the most important goal of my career," he declared.

"The joy is great but I will not detail to you the two years of suffering that I had. Every goal I score is a victory, every time I enter the pitch it is an honour and joy.

"I can now say that the nightmare is over. Now I am going to the final to get even happier with my work."