ACTUALITE |
29.06.2002
Kahn the wall Brazil must scale
SEOUL
Brazil will have to scale a high wall named Oliver Kahn if they are to win their fourth World Cup in Yokohama on Sunday.
German goalkeeper Kahn has become the big star of this World Cup along with Brazilian sharpshooter Ronaldo - and it is their battle of wits which is set to decide the destiny of the trophy.
Kahn has been equal to - almost - everything thrown at him in six matches so far.
The one blot on his copybook was an injury-time goal by Irish striker Robbie Keane in a 1-1 first-phase draw, Niall Quinn heading the ball down for Keane to lash home.
In every other much Kahn has been inspired, lunging to save from US midfielder Landon Donovan in the quarter-final before punching away an Eddie Lewis shot to build the basis for Germany`s 1-0 victory.
In the semi-final, he beat out a rasping goalward-bound shot from South Korea`s Lee Chun-Soo. Michael Ballack did the rest with his goal at the other end and Germany were seven-up in terms of reaching finals.
Kahn is now a contender for the Golden Ball trophy honouring the best player at the tournament.
Journalists from around the world will choose the winner but former German coach Franz Beckenbauer says he thinks Kahn should take the accolade.
"He has only let in one goal and is absolutely for me the best goalkeeper in the world," said the "Kaiser."
Kahn is a man after Beckenbauer`s own heart with his unyielding will to win every match he plays in.
But while the image is one of a big, blond shot-stopper barking fiercely at teammates and grimacing wildly at his back four Kahn is disarmingly modest.
"It isn`t just my doing that I have conceded only one goal. The whole team is to be credited for that, especially the whole defence. Everyone has been playing really well. Their play has made things easier for me. I depend on the performance of the whole team.
"Hard defensive work starts with the attack," adds Kahn, who insists Germany should stick to tried and trusted formulae on Sunday rather than try to catch Brazil out by changing their no-frills style.
"We don`t want to change too many things. Footballers are superstitious after all.
"Little things can change everything. You can have good luck - or bad luck. You only have to look back to the 1994 final when the two sides (Brazil and Italy) neutralised each other and it ended 0-0 after 120 minutes with everything decided on penalties."
Kahn says if called upon he would be willing to take a spotkick himself - but doesn`t see that as part of his job. In contrast, he would be out to stop the Brazilians doing to Germany what they did to the Italians.
"You have to prepare your mind and deal with this extreme situation," he notes.
But whether or not the two sides have to be separated in a shootout Kahn is confident he will pick up a winner`s medal.
"I have a feeling we are going to be world champions. We are up against the best individual players in the world - but we too have world class players."
With the German media having slated the team was not good enough before the tournament some players, including Dietmar Hamann, have been happily living without large doses of domestic newspaper coverage of the event.
But Kahn likes to keep in touch.
"Some of us have been surfing the net so we have some impression of the fantastic mood back home."
That mood was gloomy when the squad left.
But if they fly back with Germany`s Cup on board on Monday the clouds will have given way to sunshine.
And Kahn`s role will have made a giant difference.
The 33-year-old may be the best pair of hands at the World Cup - but he is also just as safe when it comes to personal finance.
"It is quite surprising to learn that he studies economics and his hobby is stock investment," Japan`s Nihon Keizai Shimbun daily said Thursday.
"For Kahn, stock investment is not a means of making a fast buck but represents a `tight defence` in terms of livelihood as in football," the paper said.
Kahn clearly knows his financial onions - and he also knows all about a tight defence.
That`s the nut the Brazilians have to crack - and if Ronaldo and Rivaldo `khan`t` find a way past him nobody can.
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Hits: 1 | Source:BBC | |
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