Ronaldo shoots home his first goal. (Allsport)

By Martyn Ziegler, PA Chief Sports Reporter

What an important victory this was, and not just for Brazil and Ronaldo but for football itself.

This was the irresistible force of Brazilian free-flowing attacking football turning the immovable object of dogged German resistance into a mere sand-castle.

A tidal wave of talent swamped the bastions of pragmatism, and added a new lustre to the beautiful game.

There were moments, and several of them, when Germany threatened to stifle the flair that has shone every time Brazil have taken the field in this World Cup.

There was plenty to admire about Germany, and respect is due to them too for making the final such a pleasurable drama.

There was a sense of relief at the final whistle as far as Brazil were concerned, because they appeared startled by the enthusiasm with which the Germans went about their task from the very beginning.

Roberto Carlos and Cafu, the two Brazilian wingbacks who usually play such an important role in their attack, were anonymous figures in the first half, as Torsten Frings and Marco Bode took over the roles which had been reserved for their more-distinguished opponents.

Bernd Schneider and Dietmar Hamann won the midfield contest in the early exchanges, while Oliver Neuville was a persistent darting menace in attack.

As a whole, Germany forced Brazil into corners, restricted available space, and peppered their opponent's penalty area with crosses, aimed at their header-supreme Miroslav Klose.

Brazil's best player of the first half, and arguably overall, was Edmilson, their ball-playing centre-back. He may not have won the match for Brazil but he did more than anybody to make sure they did not lose it.

Twice he dived in to stop Schneider-inspired moves ending up at Klose's feet, then in the second half it was his vital boot in the way of Jens Jeremies' free header.

Fortunately for Brazil, the 'Three Rs' - Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho - possess so much sheer talent it is impossible to keep them shackled for a whole match.

Indeed, Brazil should really have been in front at half-time after Ronaldinho had provided two exquisite passes for Ronaldo, who could not find a way past Oliver Kahn.

Ronaldinho, one of the best new faces at this tournament, was also involved in the move which ended with Kleberson striking the German crossbar.

German self-belief reasserted itself at the start of the second half, and had Marcos not tipped Neuville's viciously-swerving free-kick onto a post, it all might have ended in tears for Brazil.

Instead, the irony that occurs so often in football came to haunt Hamann and Kahn, two of their best players throughout the tournament.

It was Liverpool midfielder Hamann, so careful and professional throughout this World Cup, who was caught dallying by Ronaldo.

It was Kahn, the best goalkeeper in the tournament by a distance, who spilled Rivaldo's straightforward shot for Ronaldo to ram the loose ball home.

It would have been unjust for the World Cup to have been won by such a goal, and fortunately the footballing gods provided a second worthy of winning any final.

Rivaldo's step-over after Kleberson slipped the ball across edge of the penalty area was sublime, and Ronaldo's control and finish right into the corner of the net was perfection itself.

Brazilian football has usually prided itself on not just its success but its style.

For all of Germany's famed organisation, for all their refusal to accept defeat, even the players on the pitch must have felt like applauding.

One of football's enduring fascinations is that there are many occasions where the better team ends up as losers, and the underdogs have their day.

Compared to Germany, Brazil were indisputably the better team.

That was known before, during and after this final, and this was one occasion where we should be thankful the better team won.

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