Brazil rumbled into a World Cup final confrontation with Germany after running over Turkey 1-0 yesterday at Saitama stadium in Japan.
Ronaldo provided the finishing touch for the Brazilians, when he struck four minutes into the second half with a toe-poke to put Brazil into its third consecutive final.
Only Germany has achieved such a milestone and Asia's first World Cup -- the first of the new millennium -- will now feature the best two teams of the past century.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Astonishingly, three-times winners Germany have never played four-times champions Brazil at the tournament, despite the fact that one of the two has been involved in every final since World War II apart from the 1978 Argentina-Netherlands clash.
Brazil's engine had too much capacity for Turkey and it was only thanks to Turkey's goalkeeper, Rustu Recber, the scoreline wasn't higher.
Even so, Turkey never gave up and could have snatched an equalizer to force extra time at the end of the game.
PHOTO: REUTERS
There was no shame in losing to such a slick and powerful outfit as Brazil last night and no doubt Turkey's achievement will be recognized when it returns home.
Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari praised the Turkish team after the match, giving it credit for providing an entertaining semifinal. "They were especially strong in midfield and were worthy semifinal opponents."
In response, Turkey's coach Senol Gunes said, "Brazil showed respect for us during the game. They played a smart game. If we had won this game, we could have won the final."
Gunes kept faith in captain and veteran forward Hakan Sukur -- ?despite poor form throughout the tournament -- and in the first quarter of the game Turkey produced some nice passing patterns to create the first opening.
A move down the right saw the ball slung in for Alpay Ozalan who met the cross and put a glancing header across the face of the goal, with Sukur moving in dangerously behind.
Then Brazil started to dictate play, stifling Turkey's impressive midfield and shutting the door in defense. Its forward line also began to click, with Roberto Carlos making his customary raids down the left flank.
In the middle, Rivaldo stationed himself in a central position outside the Turkey penalty area, while Ronaldo was always a threat as he stalked around.
In the 27th minute two of the "3Rs," Rivaldo and Ronaldo -- Ronaldinho was suspended -- combined to give captain Cafu a chance to break the deadlock, shooting from 15m. But Recber got down smartly and the ball bounced over the bar.
Rivaldo then had a couple of clear shots on goal, while at the other end, Hakan Sukur's touch let him down in the penalty area after being put through by Hasan Sas.
Just four minutes after the break came the shock.
Ronaldo went off on one of his maze-like runs and then poked the ball home from 16m, catching Recber and the crowd by surprise.
It was a lead the canary yellows were not likely to relinquish, given the amount of possession they were enjoying.
Coach Gunes added bite to his fading attack with the addition of Ilhan Mansiz and the effect was instantaneous. First he tried to sneak in a cheeky low cross past Marcos in the Brazilian box from the right and then he was set up by Sas, but was closed down before he could get off a shot.
Sukur wasted one chance before providing the best moment of his World Cup campaign when he volleyed on the turn from a lofted Sas cross, but Marcos turned it round the post.
Man-of-the match Ronaldo was replaced by Luizao on 68 minutes and, with his first touch, nearly scored with a spectacular scissor kick that bounced over the bar.
But time was running out for Turkey and a series of substitutions from Scolari slowed down the pace of the game.
Though Turkey did get forward, mainly through an energized Mansiz, it could not break down a solid Brazilian defense.
Turkey had done its part in providing an entertaining spectacle and proved it was worthy of a final-four placing.
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