51 games down, one to go – the World Cup Final. It’s a historic occasion.  Whoever comes out on top – Italy or Brazil – will be the first nation to win the World Cup four times.   Memories of 1970 are evoked but the idea of Brazil’s pragmatic class of ’94 emulating Pelé and co is laughable.  Italy, meanwhile, seem to be running out of players, with Roberto Baggio playing despite carrying a hamstring injury that blunts his effectiveness.  The much-hyped showdown between Romario and Baggio fails to materialise.  The blistering heat is inimical to quality football.  The match turns out to be a dull, disappointing climax to a great tournament.  It finishes goalless and goes to penalties – a tiebreaking method that almost creates a moral panic from journalists and commentators as the greatest competition in the world is reduced to a shootout.

Italian and Brazilian national anthems are from https://nationalanthems.info/

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@MatthewOkot

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