Brazil wins fifth World Cup

First, with a quarter of the match to play, a Brazilian forward (Ronaldo) actually working to get back possession of the ball—never top-of-the-mind with them—by disposessing the miserly Hamann. Second, ball won, an error by the so-far infallible Oliver Kahn—one of sport’s crueller ironies—in the German goal. That was all Brazil needed to stamp their authority on this match.

For good measure, they added a second 12 minutes later. This time, a work of genuine Brazilian class. Kleberson, tireless through the evening, raced down the right and sent the ball low and hard through the centre. Rivaldo, not needing to look behind, stepped over it. There was that man Ronaldo again, just behind him, to send the ball home and seal the match.

They had to wait another 12 minutes, though, before the celebrations could start. Up in the stands, the fans had already begun chanting ‘‘Penta!’’, referring to the fact that this is Brazil’s fifth World Cup win.

Once Pierluigi Collina blew his whistle, the team went crazy. Cafu, the captain who was in his record third consecutive cup final, broke down; so, too, did goalkeeper Marcos, who had saved splendidly from Oliver Bierhoff in the dying minutes. He was draped in a Brazil flag, as were most of the team.

Lucio, Edmilson and a couple of others knelt to pray in a close circle, holding hands; after about five minutes, they rose again, wearing Jesus loves you T-shirts. After some time, the entire squad—team, reserves, trainers, coaches, hangers-on—went to the centre circle and knelt in prayer for a few moments. They knew this was special; a team doubted for so long by so many had shone through.

But this match, this tournament, was about the resurrection of Ronaldo, who a few months ago was not sure if he’d ever play again. ‘‘God rewarded me,’’ he said, while dedicating the win to, among others, his physiotherapist, draped in a flag, arms outstretched and resembling the statue they have towering above Rio.

The bucktoothed, shaven-haired man is still only 25, yet has seen more ups and downs in his career than any of Disney’s giant rollercoasters. In this month of twists and turns, though, he, and Brazil, have been the only constants. Brazil won all seven matches they played; Ronaldo scored eight goals in them. They were matched for consistency only by the Germans, though that is perhaps all they would have in common. As the final whistle went Rudi Voeller’s men slumped to the ground in a dejected heap. Not because they believed they should have won but because they knew they could have. If only Hamann had held on to the ball; if only Kahn hadn’t let it slip. If only Ronaldo hadn’t been lurking, waiting for the rebound.