Four weeks of silly wigs, face paint and tabloid tittle-tattle over WAGs (wives and girlfriends) ends tonight at the Berlin Olympastadion when France play Italy in the World Cup Final.
I hope we have a final we can remember, as these matches have been disappointing recently. The last one in 2002 was one-way traffic as Germany (stripped of Michael Ballack due to suspension) struggled to match Brazil and succumbed 2-0.
1998's final was memorable due to the mystery of Ronaldo's "illness" and his re-appearance on the official team sheet minutes before kick-off after he had originally been rested. But the Brazil side looked as anaemic as the clearly troubled Ronnie and fell 3-0 to hosts France.
The last decent final for football was Argentina's 3-2 victory over West Germany back at Mexico 86 -- so we're due a goodie.
Will we get one on Sunday? Sadly, I have my doubts and we can't blame the usual defensive bogeymen, the Italians. They have played with an attacking verve that has permeated Serie A in recent years but had failed to reach the national side under the old-fashioned guidance of Giovanni Trappatoni. Marcello Lippi's tenure has been a breath of fresh air but they will forsake the pre-tournament three-man front-line that they had set out with in favour of a 4-1-3-1-1.
Luca Toni will lead the line by himself for the Azzurri, with Francesco Totti playing behind him. Alessandro Nesta misses out again and Marco Materazzi keeps his place at centre-back.
Toni has split opinion at the tournament -- despite his two goals he hasn't lived up to his reputation as the first man to score more than 30 goals in Serie A for nearly 40 years. Some Italian observers thought he should have scored even more at club level and wastes too many chances.
Despite all that, he has emerged as Lippi's first choice striker in front of stiff opposition from Vincenzo Iaquinta, Alberto Gilardino and Pippo Inzaghi. How he plays today could have a big factor in who takes the cup home.
The French have been a strange team this tournament -- great against Spain and Brazil in the earlier knock-out stages but tentative in the group stage and also against Portugal in the semi. One thing that will have fans of Les Bleus worried is the team's almost suicidal desire to invite sides to attack them if they take a lead. Of course, this is necessary if they are to play a counter-attacking game but there isn't much countering once they get hold of the ball again.
The French have not played with a huge amount of joie de vivre but Zinedine Zidane's performance against Brazil was a joyous reminder of his former glories while Thierry Henry is a dangerous forward able to create something from nothing. The suspicion lingers, however, that the Arsenal man needs some support or at least more than the wide men Franck Ribery and Florent Malouda, good players that they are, can provide in the 4-5-1 formation.
Far be it from me to criticise a goalkeeper who has won 86 caps and the confidence of several French national coaches, but Fabien Barthez continues to look a weakness in goal and Eric Abidal has not impressed at left back and was tormented by both Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo in the semi-final (although there are plenty of full backs who can also claim that).
There are no such weaknesses in the Italian side -- even Materazzi, so often an Achilles' heel due to his rashness and temper, has impressed as Fabio Cannavaro's partner in the centre of defence. However, their record against France is not a good one -- no victories since the World Cup of 1978. But the two last meetings did go to extra time -- Italy lost on penalties at the second round of France 98 and lost the final to a Golden Goal at Euro 2000.
So a close game is in store between two teams with excellent defences -- Italy have only conceded one goal in the entire tournament (an own goal at that) while France have only conceded two.
The key will be their creative players -- can France's wide men get past the Italian full backs? Can Zidane summon up one more great performance from those aching limbs? Or will Andrea Pirlo be the man to dictate the flow of the game? Will Totti put in a performance befitting his reputation? I would expect to see Mauro Camoranesi and Gianluca Zambrotta really test the French left flank.
Even though Italy have the better team, I can see this match going to extra-time although if Italy can force an early goal then France may struggle to create enough chances to get back on terms if Zidane isn't dominating.
I also feel that Italy have far more options to change the game from the bench -- Alex Del Piero did well as a sub against Germany in the semi and with Iaquinta, Gilardino and Inzaghi there is plenty of firepower.
France don't have the same options -- David Trezeguet can come on but has not enjoyed the best of form for Juventus last season and has lost the faith of French coach Raymond Domenech. Neither can Vikash Dhorasoo replace Zidane effectively as playmaker.
An extra-time victory to the Italians may be in order -- one thing is for sure, the Italians will not want this game settled on penalties, as they have a worse record even than the English. Hopefully it won't come to that -- I foresee the trophy returning to Italy for the fourth time late on, but it won't be easy.
