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FT guide to the World Cup final
The World Cup has rarely been, as ice-cream salesmen Ben and Jerry might say, chock-full of surprises, but, for most of its duration, Germany 2006 was virtually a shock-free zone. The nearest thing to an upset prior to the quarter-finals was Trinidad and Tobago’s snatched goalless draw with Sweden back on the tournament’s second day. - -
Content
The legacy: Why it‘s truly wunderbar. . .
The second glass of tropical schnapps may have helped, but Matthew Engel leaves the tournament with a warm glow.
The minnows: Welcome back to the Old World
The young pretenders have failed to trouble football’s establishment, writes David Owen.
France versus Italy: Who will have their hands on the trophy?
Italy has a miserly defence built around Fabio Cannavaro, their immense centre half and captain. France have turned their World Cup campaign around to spectacular effect.
Goalscorers: Regulars, occasionals and one-offs
Simon Kuper reflects on the World Cup’s great strikers and finds they fall into three categories.
German nation: An event to open the mind
As their team adopted a more positive playing style, Germans took a more positive view of their country, writes Richard Milne.
Tactics: Rebirth of the old-fashioned target man
Jonathan Wilson sees centre forwards arise from the tactical graveyard.
