Sorry guys, but this thread will be my own shrine, LOL
Oh man this is great..beautifully written...
A fifth star in the land of the rising sun
by FIFAworldcup.com
THE DAY REPLAYED-Over the course of a passion-filled month, 32 nations from every corner of the globe were painfully and tearfully whittled to two towering giants, two fierce contenders. And in just 90 dramatic minutes in Yokohama, Japan, a legend was forged, and an age-old tale told, as ?Pentacampeao? Brazil and Ronaldo, with his velvet feet and Golden Shoe, danced off a new continent with the sun on their faces and stars in their eyes.
And as he remembered lying, crying on an operating table with blood pouring from his knee, Ronaldo fought with valour for the vindication and rebirth only a bouncing ball and a Final can offer. ?My biggest victory is that I can play again,? Ronaldo told honoured guest and orthopedist Gerard Saillant in Yokohama.
And play he did, though it seemed France 98 d?j? vu all over again as he missed three golden opportunities in the first 45 minutes in a ghostly reminder of football?s crueler face. Brazil poured forward in homage of their fanciful, rhythmic forbearers. But after flouting chance after chance, German efficiency and cold realism looked to be lurking with intent.
Lev Yashin Award winner, ?keeper and captain Oliver Kahn shined like a true legend, a statue carved from the roughest stone as he put the Mannschaft on his broad shoulders one last time.
But as the woodwork played a crucial role, the cruelest of all twists and the brightest bits of lady luck?s spoils rained down on the night. As Rivaldo rifled a shot in on Kahn, the finest, seemingly infallible goalkeeper in all the land, spilled the ball right to the feet of the previously luckless Ronaldo. And in a moment, the snake-bitten striker was born again after years of pain and self-doubt?and perhaps a legend too.
The now-lordly ?Phenomenon? struck again as Rivaldo dummied brilliantly leaving a simple strike for the finally blessed South American Samba king to grab his twelfth finals goal and a place among the pantheon of football?s true greats.
And with the historic victory only one star shined in the land of the rising sun as Germany kneeled to a healed Ronaldo in tears as Pele was in ?58, carried off the field shoulder-high by Cafu and his legendary team mates. With the landmark win, Brazil become the only nation to have lifted the symbol of pure victory on every continent where she traveled.
Giants never die, and myths live forever. In a tournament of upsets, flux and profound change, the mythical Brazilians danced into history yet again.
Ronaldo (L) kisses the FIFA World Cup trophey with Kleberson (R) after defeating Germany in the final. -- (AP Photo/Dusan Vranic)
