Rivaldo - has brought flair to the tournament. (Allsport)

By Mark Bradley, PA Sport Chief Soccer Writer, Yokohama

It has been a tournament of great shocks but by no means a great tournament. The 2002 World Cup now desperately needs Brazil to triumph against Germany to save it from itself.

Just as the Wimbledon championships will find, with many of the favourites being knocked out early on, that simply leaves little quality left for the later rounds.

Losing France, Argentina and Portugal in the group stages in the Far East certainly made captivating viewing at the time. As did the defeats of Spain and Italy.

However, once England had been beaten by Brazil and the understandably self-obsessed blinkers were removed, it suddenly dawned on everyone bar the participants the semi-finals were far from enticing.

Indeed, when FIFA president Sepp Blatter admits "it has been an entertaining and attractive World Cup but perhaps not the best in footballing terms", then you know something is up.

Korea have been the team of the tournament in many ways, carried to the last four on a surge of national pride and an unmatched teamwork ethic.

However, while Senegal have also lifted the spirits with their fearless approach, including setting the tone with their opening victory against France, there are few other moments or results that will linger long in the memory.

For an English audience, the one real highlight was, for once, a penalty. To be precise, David Beckham's against Argentina, more for what it meant in terms of exorcising the demons of 1998 than anything else.

And it can only be hoped the 2002 World Cup final is remembered in exactly the same way - as the moment Ronaldo finally buried the ghosts of the final in the Stade de France.

For if Brazil prevail, then all is well in the world again. They have unashamedly been the neutrals' favourite in the tournament, bringing the glamour and class which few other teams have possessed.

Germany's progress to the final, meanwhile, has been remarkable only by being unremarkable. They are a long way from greatness.

Rudi Voller has certainly performed a masterstroke in reviving a team on its knees in losing 5-1 to England just 10 months ago, while Oliver Kahn has been truly inspired in goal.

Otherwise, apart from five goals by Miroslav Klose - all in the group stage and three against Saudi Arabia - and flashes of talent from Michael Ballack, Germany have edged along a decidedly easy path with a minimum of fuss.

Then again, if this final is supposedly proof the natural order of the game has been restored after a seemingly relentless cascade of surprises, the fact Brazil and Germany are both here is one of the biggest shocks of all.

For these are two great footballing nations who have hauled themselves back from the pit of despair to the brink of salvation within the space of just 10 months.

Just four days after Germany had lost 5-1 to England, Brazil were beaten by Argentina to put their qualification in danger as well.

Their turbulent recent past is perhaps best summed up by the fact that Luiz Felipe Scolari, their Gene Hackman lookalike coach, was their fourth manager since the qualifying campaign began.

Scolari's own first match in charge ended in a 1-0 defeat by Uruguay, who thereby joined Brazil equal on points in the final qualifying spot. The unthinkable was now possible.

Brazil's route thereafter was the archetypal rollercoaster ride amid cautious tactics, with qualification only ensured in the final game with a win against Venezuela.

What Scolari has since done, however, is return to Brazil's traditional attacking values, relying on the irrepressible 'three R's' - Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho - while encouraging Cafu and Roberto Carlos to roam at will.

As a result, the goals have flowed in from all angles, with 16 so far in six consecutive victories.

This is by no means a great Brazilian team. But it does have some great individuals and, Kahn apart, Germany - especially with Ballack suspended - simply do not.

The story of this World Cup has so far largely been one of teamwork flourishing at the expense of individual class.

That, more than anything else, is what Germany's progress has proved.

Where others have fallen by the wayside, Germany have gone from strength to strength and England can only look on in envy and astonishment at their relative fortunes since last September.

Having come through a play-off against Ukraine, Voller promptly lost five of his leading players, including Jens Nowotny, Mehmet Scholl and Sebastian Deisler to injury.

Such blows would have crippled a lesser side, certainly one with less mental strength, but Germany have never buckled and have been inspired by a superb defence.

With Ballack out of midfield, that is exactly the area in which Rivaldo should dominate on Sunday, just as he did against Turkey and England.

Having been guilty of some appalling play-acting in the opening game, he has been one part pariah and two parts messiah in this tournament.

But whether it is Rivaldo or Ronaldo who shine brightest, an average tournament badly needs an above-average final.

The rest of the world is now looking to Brazil to ensure class does eventually prevail.