Ronaldo misses chance after 20 minutes

Brazil 0 0 Germany

Germany, perhaps to everyone’s surprise, were the more adventurous, attacking side in the opening exchanges as Brazil’s defence was put under pressure.

Luiz Felipe Scolari, who ends his short tenure in charge of Brazil following this game, was an anxious, animated figure on the sidelines as his team were struggling to get out of their own half.

But then in the 19th minute came the moment Ronaldo had waited four years for after the events of France 98.

A delightful through-ball from Ronaldinho picked out the tournament’s six-goal leading scorer running behind the slipping Christoph Metzelder.

As Kahn approached to narrow the angle, Ronaldo deftly flicked a first-time touch shot past the 33-year-old with the outside of his left boot, only to watch the ball sidle past the right-hand post by a good two yards. The look on his face said it all.