CERRITOS, CA (smt) - German GK Oliver Kahn, with a 0.17 GAA, made one critical mistake giving up a rebound off a Rivaldo strike that Ronaldo scooped up for Brazil's first goal in the 67th minute. Germany (5-1-1), without playmaker Michael Ballack, did not control the air or the play as Brazil (7-0) won its fifth World Cup title, 2-0, in Yokohama, Japan. Ronaldo added a second goal, a precise strike in the 79th minute that sealed the victory. In a twist, Brazil GK Marcos was the man of the match making some spectacular saves in becoming the first GK to shut out Germany. Brazil, who struggled to qualify, showed they were the best team in the tourney after a haphazard first 40 minutes. They scored a cup high 18 goals and +14 goal differential and became the first team ever to win seven World Cup matches in one tourament. The first-ever World Cup matchup between these two nations was tentative in the first half with Germany playing the ball back to Kahn many times. The second half saw things open up and both teams had good scoring chances.

Turkey (4-2-1), who needed Brazil to beat Costa Rica in the final match of group play to advance, took third place in the entertaining consolation match in Daegu, South Korea by outlasting co-host South Korea (3-2-2), 3-2. Transparent Turkey striker Hakan Sukur reappeared quickly scoring his first goal in this tourney and the fastest goal in Cup history 11 seconds into the match. South Korea tied it up on a brilliant free kick outside the box by Eul-Young Lee (9th) before Ilhan Mansiz of Turkey struck back in the 13th and 32nd minutes to give him 2 goals and 1 assist for the day. The rest of the match belonged to South Korea but they couldn't penetrate save leader Rustu Recber (8 more saves for a total of 34) until the 94th+ minute. South Korea's fourth place finish is the highest ever for an Asian nation.

DIFFERENCES: Brazil denied Germany the air which surprised me. Germany had 13 corner kicks and several close free kicks and didn't do much with them. Brazil also had better aim, getting 7 of 9 shots on goal while Germany shanked most of their shots getting just 4 of 12 on goal. And who would've thought Marcos would outplay Kahn in goal?

AWARDS: Ronaldo's eight goals gave him the Golden Shoe Award (wasn't it "Boot" a while back?)... Belgium won the FIFA Fair Play Award (partly due to picking up just six yellow cards and no red cards)... Kahn won the Yashin Award for best goalkeeper.

PUNA topped 100 points (102) to win the 2nd HWCI FIFA World Cup Pool. She was followed by fellow Brazil pickers DANNY BOY (2nd, 100) and DIMPLES (3rd, 99) with BERNISAM UNITED FC (4th, 83) just holding onto the last money position and avoiding the embarrassment of going from a 124/128 chance of winning money to nothing. FLYING ELVI (80), who would've taken first with a Germany win, finishes 6th and out of the money. The top three finishers all won by getting one correct win in each of the last three rounds just overcoming BERNISAM's strong first two rounds.

The seven goals scored in the final two matches was correctly picked by three people and just one person (9.0 by BERN'S DA BOMB '02 (11th, 71)) picked a total higher than 7.0. FREDDYD (9th, 73), MATADOR (13th, 69), SPERM JELLY DONUTS (16th, 68), and SOURCE (18th, 67) all won their tiebreakers. CRESTFIELD WAX PAPER takes last with 58 points.

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Amazingly, the best team won...
Scott HW