An Oliver Kahn blunder gifts Ronaldo the first of his two goals as Germany lose 2-0 to Brazil in the World Cup final.
Can Germany be satisfied with their performance?
This debate is now closed. A selection of your e-mails appear below.
Germany should be proud, and Kahn should hold his head up high. He played brilliantly throughout the whole tournament, and can not be held solely responsible for the loss. Kahn was in fact playing with an injury to his hand, and the constant rain could not have helped to make it any easier to handle.
As a German Australian I still of course follow the German side who I think played excellent football in the final.
Both teams had great spirit but one had more natural ability.
Frank Bierbrauer, Wollongong, Australia
Congratulations Germany, although the final result was disappointing, I must say that both Rudi Voeller and his team have made me extremely proud of being a German soccer fan. The team played as one tight and efficient unit.
Kahn might have fumbled the ball during Brazil's first goal but he is human after all. I understand that he feels inconsolable after the defeat, but my prayers and well wishes are with him and I strongly believe a player of such calibre will rise up from this disappointment to guide Germany to glory that she deserves.
Germany missed the services of Michael Ballack dearly. But, I think even German fans would agree that the Brazilians deserved to win. They were indeed a better side. German attacks were not as penetrative as they should have been.
Rehan Ghazi, Pakistan.
If the girl guides had fielded a team you can bet that Germany would have been elected to play them. They had by far the easiest route to the final but laboured to achieve wins along the way. I think that Germany came out to get a draw and attempt a fluke win on penalties. Very, very boring.
Steve,UK living in USA
Kahn, you did not lose the game for Germany. The first goal may have been your fault but the second was not. You are still the best goalie I have ever witnessed.
Germany was great and I think that the Brazilian squad should be proud of playing against them. They had a wonderful campaign.
Maria do Carmo, Brazilian in the US
Germany played a similar style to that played by England in the second half. I don't remember Brazil kicking the ball back to their goalie once.
The negative style used by Germany and England played right into the Brazilian game plan.
When a goalie kicks the ball up field from his own goal area there is a 50-50 chance that the opposition will take over possession. At this level of play that doesn't seem good enough.
Olli Kahn deserves the title of best player on the World Cup. Although he made a mistake he was the man that brought Germany thus farin the tournament, much as Ronaldo did with his men. Today was the first time that the quality of the German team and the German goalkeeper was equalled.
Brazil are worthy champions, and they are now the clearly the greatest footballing nation on earth, but Germany can draw great satisfaction from their performance in the final.
Yes, they played no great footbaling giants, but you can only beat who is put in front of you, and Germany has beaten them all.
I have never been the greatest admirer of German football, but I am a man converted. In the final they played with passion and a will to win. The only obstacle was a superior side.
Chris Bourne, England
Germany can be proud of their efforts, but Brazil's first goal on a blunder by Khan, seemed to take the edge off their game. If Hamman's cracking shot had not been turned away, what a difference that would have made to the game. Brazil are worthy champions.
Len Shone, Canada
Of course I'm sad that Germany lost today. But considering our situation before the World Cup, to be runner up isn't that bad after all.
Now we have to look forward to the next tournaments. There are many young, talented players such as Metzelder, Deisler, Klose, Schneider, and Ballack. They definitely still have much potential. The future of the German team shines bright.
Perhaps it would have helped matters had the Germans attempted 20 or 25 more back passes to the goalkeeper. Negative, boring, Teutonic soccer. I'm glad they lost and I'm glad they lost because of a mistake by the "invincible" Oliver Kahn.
Oliver Kahn ripped his tendon in the index finger of his right hand and still kept on playing. Woah. And by the way, it is the German Gerd Mueller that is the all time best scorer with 14 goals in the World Cup. Pele and Ronaldo have only scored 12 times.
Oh please, to suggest these teams were anything other than average overstates the competition.
The fact is most of the top teams now are at the same level of development and there will be many people in France, Spain, Argentina, Italy and England who will be kicking themselves over their wasted opportunities. Brazil were slightly less average than the rest.
Well done, Germany! They did so well. It was unlucky to be defeated in the final.
Although Kahn is not on the winning side, he is my best player of the tournament. And I have to mention that all the Germans did give me big surprises when nobody, including myself believed they could reach the final one month ago.
Anyway, the Germans have showed they are the best European team in 2002. I look forward to the World Cup 2006 and I believe that they will be stronger and stronger.
P>Of course the better team won. But thank you to Germany for what was a highly engrossing final. Well done!
Germany had their chances, but if both teams had scored on all their opportunities, Brazil would have won anyway. Congratulations Brazil!
Uwe Junge, Germany
Congratulations to Germany. You are a solid and strong football team and will certainly be much more next Cup. As a Brazilian I am very happy to see them as champions once again. We deserved this victory.
Oliver Kahn did quite well; the first goal was not all his fault. Hamman dwelled on the ball too long and paid for it. Kahn kept Germany in the game many times. If it was not for him, Germany would have lost by many more.
Timmy Deavin, England
Damn Oliver Kahn! I thought he was a descent goalie but he disappointed me in both goals he conceded and I've lost faith in him. But as a team I'm proud of how Germany played.
I hope that Voeller is kept as the German coach. He brought that team up from the depths of that 5-1 loss to England, to what it is now. And Oliver Kahn is to me a great keeper. I hope he will play again in 2006.
Frank, Brazilian American
The 2-0 result today does not show how well Germany played today. Oliver Kahn should not be blamed for the first goal; the ball had been well driven by Rivaldo. It was a difficult ball for even a great keeper like Kahn to stop without a rebound.
Well it's not as if the result was going to be a big surprise to most people! Germany you did your best! Anyway there is always 2006..!
It was Germany´s best performance of the World Cup - but this time the luck ran out. No can deny that the best team won the tournament.
Well done Brazil you deserved it overall. Germany is however proud of its players and the excellent performance they all put in. Bernd Schnieder was the best player on the park. Roll on 2006 we are now building a side will dominate football alongside Brazil and the younger players will learn from this great expedition.
I think Oliver Kahn did quite well. The first goal was not all his fault. His Hamman dwelled on the ball too long and payed for it. Kahn kept Germany in the game many times. If it was not for him, Germany would have lost by many more.
Timmy Deavin, England
No one could deny that Brazil are worthy winners. By far they were the best team in the tournament! Ronaldo gets my vote for player of the World Cup too.
I was glad to see Germany in the final, they always showcase how a TEAM should play. Sad to see them lose, but then the Brazil team have magic fairy dust in every player's boot which makes them a little tricky to beat. (But a United Kingdom team, well..)
Dave Bartlett, UK
Germany played their best game of the tournament but finally Kahn made his only mistake and it was over. Our team played very good and entertaining football this time but Brazil have the very best footballers in the world.
It's okay that Brazil won, I believed in a miracle for Germany. Well,then we're the second best football team in the world! We shouldn't be sad...
Lisa Schilling, Germany
I am disappointed by your rating for German Team, particularly for Oliver Kahn's rating. He saved many chances in first half with his best instincts and you must take the factor that it was final match against Brazil. They, however, played at their best. Germany lacked star players while Brazil are full of offensive strikers. Oliver Kahn did his best. He did not get enough support from defenders to block Brazil's attack.
Great game!Both sides played their style and the best team won.Ro-Ri-Ro are amazing.Let's get the sixth in Germany
Poor, poor Oliver Kahn! He deserved it more than anyone. It's time somebody else won the World Cup, but obviously not today.
Jenny Hao, England
A deserved win, and if Brazil were not worthy of it, how come they are 5-times champions now?
Still the German team played better football than during the games before and proved again that they can and did rise to the occasion.
I think the better team won. But in my opinion Germany's advancement from outsider to vice-champion during the 2002 World Cup were greater than Brazil's. Watch out for 2006!
Brazil won the because the Europeans sent individual teams to the World Cup rather than a single European Union team. A single team made of the best players in the European Union would have defeated any team in the World 5-0 including Brazil.
Hubert, European Union
You've got to be kidding me. Ronaldo scores two goals, a couple more shots on goal in a two nothing World Cup final win, ties Pele for most ever World Cup goals and you're giving the guy a 9 out of 10 rating? What does it take to get the perfect 10?
Matt Buddington, USA
Allan Hansen remark about Oliver Khan is typical of a defender blaming the goalkeeper when it ways a defender Dietmar Hamman who gave the ball away in the first place!
Mark Thomas, England
Well it's not as if the result was going to be a big surprise to most people! Germany you did your best! It does makes the England defeat with just 1 goal sound much better though! Anyway there is always 2006..!
CP, USA (English Expat)