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Countdown Begins For World Cup Final, Schroeder Heads to Japan
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| Schroeder
reacts as the German team scores against Korea in their
semi-final match on June 25
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SEOUL,
June 27 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) – The world is counting
down to watch the Sunday, June 30, World Cup final between Germany and
Brazil, so does the German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder who will hitch
a ride on Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s plane to watch
the match.
The
chancellor formally made a request to Koizumi Wednesday, June 26, on
the sidelines of a Group of Eight (G8) summit in Kananaskis, Canada,
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe told reporters.
“As
a result of our consideration, we decided to take him on board,” Abe
said, adding that four other German officials would also join
Koizumi’s flight back to Tokyo at the close of the two-day G8 summit
in the Canadian Rockies resort, Agence France-Presse (AFP) said.
They
are to leave Calgary on Friday, June 28, arriving at the Japanese
capital the following day.
Schroeder
will be the first foreign leader to be allowed on Japan’s government
plane, an official said. Officials said there are no legal problems as
the Germans are considered “quasi state guests.”
Meanwhile,
the German presidential plane will head back to Germany to pick up
Schroeder’s wife, Doris Schroeder-Koepf, and fly her to Japan to
join the chancellor when he returns to his country, Abe said.
On
the match front, the first shots were fired on Thursday, in the
buildup to Sunday’s World Cup final with German goalkeeper Oliver
Kahn saying that Rudi Voller’s men could upset firm favorites
Brazil.
No
sooner had the dust settled on Brazil’s 1-0 semi-final win over
Turkey than the man rated the world’s best goalkeeper was throwing
down the gauntlet, AFP reported.
“I
have a feeling we are going to be world champions,” said the Bayern
Munich goalkeeper, though he admitted it was just a hunch.
“We
are up against the best individual players in the world - but we too
have world class players.
“The
star individuals can’t necessarily beat us,” warned Kahn, who has
conceded just one goal in six matches at the finals and was
instrumental in keeping his side in the match with outstanding saves
against the United States and Paraguay.
“Everyone
knows if we want to beat them we will all have to give 100 percent.
Every player will have to play the game of his life,” he warned.
The
match is being billed as another chapter in the long-running saga of
intercontinental football rivalry between Europe and South America.
It
will be the fifth final in a row which sees a European team going up
against a South American side and this time it involves the two most
successful countries.
With
16 World Cup finals played to date, the honors are shared 8-8 between
the two continents, and the first ever showdown on Asian soil will be
seen as a tie-breaker. Only Brazil has won outside of its own
continent in Sweden in 1958.
Brazilian
Luiz Felipe Scolari was quick to try to take some of the edge off the
match in his post-match comments saying that he had the healthiest of
respect for Germany and for Voller, AFP said.
“When
we met in Seoul for the World Cup draw, both teams had reached the
finals at the last moment,” he said.
“We
hugged each other and we saluted each other and we said maybe we are
going to meet each other in the final.
“So
here we are and I am sure that we are going to meet each other and hug
each other. And of course, may the best team win.”
Such
largesse may not be shared by Brazil’s fanatical supporters.
They
are demanding nothing less than a record fifth World Cup crown, the
first since 1994 and one which would help erase the memory of the 3-0
loss to France in the final four years ago, still regarded as one of
the blackest days in Brazilian football history.
For
Germany the prize would be a fourth World Cup win putting them level
with Brazil as the best ever and a triumph for hard-nosed German
effort and team-work.
German
midfielder Dietmar Hamman was in no doubt that coach Voller was the
man responsible for taking Germany into the final against most
expectations.
“He
is bringing to bear all the experience gleaned from playing in
previous tournaments. He has the respect of all the players,” he
said.
“Without
a strong coach you can’t achieve anything. Now we are going to go
the final mile - the elements of success are coming together.”
The
Germans were to stay at their Seoul training camp Thursday before
heading out to join the Brazilians at Yokohama on Friday.
Meanwhile
in Yokohama, Rivaldo said he believes an older, wiser Brazil are
perfectly positioned to erase the bitter memories of defeat to France
in 1998 as they prepare for Sunday’s World Cup final against
Germany.
The
Barcelona ace was a dejected member of the Brazil team which finished
the last World Cup in disarray, routed 3-0 by France in what was one
of the most one-sided finals in the 72-year history of the tournament.
The
pasting in Paris did lasting damage to the South Americans’
footballing psyche, sending the Brazilians into a prolonged nosedive
of poor form and mediocre results that they only just managed to pull
themselves out of in time for Korea-Japan 2002.
Having
survived so many years of heartache to come within touching distance
of a record fifth World Cup crown Brazil are determined not to let
lightning strike twice, Rivaldo said.
“The
1998 mistake should not happen again. We have got to the final with
much more confidence than in 1998,” Rivaldo said following
Brazil’s 1-0 semi-final win over Turkey on Wednesday.
“Brazil
have won six games and have now regained our old confidence. We now
know what to do with the ball. A few months ago, many people doubted
we had this ability.”
The
confidence generated by Brazil’s maintenance of a 100 percent record
going into final will be crucial, Rivaldo believes. In 1998, the
Brazilians were only fleetingly convincing, and even suffered the
ignominy of a first-round loss to Norway before finishing in the
final.
"In
1998 we were very inconsistent," Rivaldo said. "This time we
are very consistent. We are playing at the same level as we started
this tournament."
"This
is a great end to the World Cup," Rivaldo said. "We have
never played Germany before in the finals. Both teams have a great
tradition, and we will give Germany the same respect as we have given
every team in this tournament.
"And
if Brazil wants to be champions, we have to respect Germany, not fear
them, respect them.
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