Kahn the final obstacle in Brazil's revival

There is a saying in Spanish football that the defence takes a team to a final but it is the attack which wins it. On that basis Brazil are clear favourites to achieve glory in tomorrow's World Cup final in Yokohama.

In Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho they have the most attractive, elusive and destructive forward line of this 17th tournament by some distance. They have reached the final averaging more than two-and-a-half goals per game, a better record than any finalist since their fabled predecessors in 1970. With Cafu and Roberto Carlos providing attacking width and all three central defenders prepared to step forward to confuse their opponents' marking patterns, they have a bewildering range of options. As Rudi Völler, the German coach, said: "In terms of individual players they have more class than we have but that's not something we should be ashamed of. All teams are in this situation when compared to Brazil."

Today, though, this irresistible force meets the immovable object. Oliver Kahn has so far conceded just one goal in six matches, and he almost saved Robbie Keane's injury-time equaliser pushing it against the inside of the post. Germany, admittedly, have not faced the most prestigious of opponents but Portugal, Italy and Spain had previously been beaten by South Korea and in Portugal's case, by the United States as well. Having already withstood the loss of Sebastian Deisler, Jens Novotny, Mehmet Scholl, Jorg Heinrich, Jörg Böhme, Christian Wörns and Marko Rehmer – an injury list which puts England's moans into harsh perspective – they will believe they can also overcome the suspension of Michael Ballack.

As his absence means they are likely to be even more defensively orientated, Jens Jeremies being the probable replacement, neutral spectators will hope Brazil score early, forcing Germany out. Not that a final between everyone's second favourite team and the game's pantomime villains will have non-partisan observers.

That either side would be walking out at the Yokohama International Stadium this weekend seemed inconceivable 10 months ago. On 1 September England humiliated Germany 5-1 in Munich, condemning them to a difficult play-off. Four days later Argentina defeated Brazil 2-1, leaving them scrabbling to qualify.

Both Völler and Luiz Felipe Scolari deserve great credit for turning their teams around. Of the two, Völler's achievement is more surprising since he was initially a stop-gap appointment and had never coached at club level.

Much of his success is down to his relationship with the players who, unusually for Germany, have been a harmonious group. "I think the difference from previous teams in past tournaments is for once we have a coaching staff all the players can get behind," said Dietmar Hamann. "He's seen it and done it on the international stage and the players respect that."

Hamann will be a key player for Germany tomorrow, for his composure as much as his ability. "Before every game, he says 'keep order'," Völler said of the Liverpool midfielder. "He doesn't say it loud but then, he helps the team do just that."

Völler could now join Mario Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer in experiencing World Cup success as a player and manager. That would mean Scolari completing an unwanted club and international double having led both Gremio and Palmeiras to World Club Championship defeat in nearby Tokyo.

His team's arrival in the final should perhaps not be a surprise. Many pundits, including this one, should have looked closer at the impressive pre-tournament form than the scrambled qualification which preceded it. After that defeat in Buenos Aires, Brazil embarked on an unbeaten run which now stretches to 15 matches, 14 of them ending in victory. With Ronaldo and Ronaldinho recovering fitness and form respectively the omens were good.

Yet as late as last month Scolari was named "Public Enemy No 1" by a Brazilian newspaper for omitting Romario from the World Cup squad. Even before this, his school-age sons had asked him whether the job was worth the abuse being aimed at him and them. The first three months of the job were, he admitted yesterday, "hell". He added: "I was not ready. We were in danger of not qualifying. I could have been in charge when we failed to qualify for the first time." Given all this when he said, yesterday, that he will be unemployed after the final and looking to take a break it may not have been just a negotiating ploy – his contract ends tomorrow.

Brazil's revival, he added, was an example to the country itself which is currently undergoing a fiscal crisis. "It shows that we can get out of any bad situation and not just in football," he said.

Several players on both sides have minor injuries, including Ronaldo (thigh), Klose (hip) and Kahn (neck), but all are expected to start. Pierluigi Collina, probably the best and certainly the most famous referee in the game, will officiate – completing, significantly, a European sweep of the semis and final. Philip Sharp will run the line. Next time he is cursed by one of his playing countrymen, who seem to have returned home an age ago, he may feel tempted to remind them that one Englishman, at least, reached the pinnacle.

It is to be hoped neither Sharp nor Collina appear in Monday's headlines. The tournament needs a good finale. While there have been some excellent aspects to this World Cup the knock-out stages have been disappointing with only four goals in the last eight hours' football and a dwindling sense of drama. These contrasting teams have the quality to provide it. I take Brazil to win with the hope that Germany force them to reach the heights in doing so.