Bright start from Germany

Brazil 0 0 Germany

Germany have started the brightest in the World Cup final at Yokohama, Japan.

The whistle of Italian referee Pierluigi Collina and thousands of flashbulbs signalled the start of the match as light rain fell.

Kahn was forced into the action early, picking out a Kleberson cross after Jeremies had slipped on the greasy surface in trying to intercept a Cafu throw.

Germany coach Rudi Voller had vowed to ‘‘neutralise’’ Brazil’s attack so a pass back from Bode soon after led to a chorus of boos and whistles from the mainly Samba-supporting crowd.

Despite such negativity, the Germans then soon gained a positive advantage when Roque Junior was booked in the seventh minute by Collina for a late and untidy challenge on Oliver Neuville.

But that was cancelled out two minutes later when Miroslav Klose was cautioned for elbowing Edmilson in the face as the two jumped for a high ball, with the yellow cards sandwiched by a Kleberson drive which was scooped up by Kahn.

It was Edmilson who then superbly intercepted a low right-wing cross from Bernd Schneider, with Klose waiting to pounce behind him.