Brazil 1-0 Turkey
A moment of magic by Ronaldo inspired Brazil to victory over Turkey as the four-times champions marched into the World Cup final.
His second-half goal proved enough to overcome a resilient Turkey side and secured a final date with Germany on Sunday.
Both teams will be playing in their seventh final despite never having met in a World Cup match in the tournament's 72-year history.
Brazil coach Felipe Scolari said: "It is really something very big what we have achieved but Ifelt positive energy from the Brazilian players, supporters and the bench.
"We are pleased that we have now been able to make the fans so happy and we thank them for having the patience."
Scolari's side, like that of Rudi Voeller's Germany, were given little chance of making it to the latter stages of the competition.
But both teams have defied their critics - Brazil playing with their traditional flair and Germany with their expected efficiency - to set up a mouthwatering climax in Yokohama on Sunday.
Brazil have the rejuvenated Ronaldo to thank for their progress to a large degree.
And his goal, which saw the muscular striker move majestically into the Turkey area before toe-poking the ball past goalkeeper Rustu Recber, reconfirmed his place among the world's best players.
20 mins: Alpay's header forces a good save from Marcos
22 mins: Rustu is equal to Cafu's shot
49 mins: Ronaldo puts Brazil in the lead
57 mins: Akyel denies Edilson
Turkey, who have enjoyed an impressive rise to feature among the world's footballing elite, were by no means overawed by their more illustrious counterparts.
Indeed, Senol Gunes' well-disciplined side made a tenacious start, eager to test a Brazil defence with a penchant for attacking.
The sight of Roberto Carlos being outstripped at left-back is not a common one, yet Fatih Akyel did so quite superbly.
The Turkish right-back set off a number of marauding runs and in the 20th minute, following another burst forward, he created the first real chance of the game.
Akyel's cross was met by the head of AlpayOzalan, who made powerful enough contact to force a good save from Marcos in the Brazil.
Neat and tidy in possession, it seemed Turkey were reading from the Brazilian script.Alpay's header served as a warning, with Brazil taking note swiftly to resume normal service.
A magical 15-minute first-half spell then ensued as Brazil began to dazzle with Rivaldo orchestrating proceedings in supreme style.
His brilliance was matched in equal measure by Turkey keeper Rustu, who pulled off a series of magnificent saves.
At one point, a repeat of Carlos Alberto's memorable goal in the 1970 World Cup final looked likely as Rivaldo, Ronaldo and Cafu combined to stunning effect.
But Cafu took one touch too many and Rustu somehow deflected his shot away for a corner.
Rustu then made an excellent double save to deny Ronaldo and Rivaldo as Brazil's much vaunted Rs threatened to run riot.
Yet Turkey still looked dangerous on the counter-attack as Yildiray Basturk and Hasan Sas exploited Brazil's cavalier defending.
Brazil, however, remained true to their maxim that the best form of defence is attack, and after the interval they continued to flood forward in numbers.
Ronaldo burst into life and soon put Brazil into the lead. He received the ball from Gilberto Silva and ghosted past the Turkish defence.
A quick toe-poke in the area deceived Rustu, and the Turkish keeper will be disappointed not to have kept out what was essentially a weak shot.
Minutes later, Akyel made a crucial interception to deny Edilson - playing in place of the suspended Ronaldinho - what would have certainly been Brazil's second.
Further chances went begging as Brazil opted for the spectacular instead of the simple, with substitute Luizao the main culprit.
Turkey brought on golden-goal hero Ilhan Mansiz in the latter stages, but neither he nor goalless striker Hakan Sukur could find a way past Brazil.
Brazil: Marcos, Cafu (captain), Lucio, Roque Junior,Edmilson, Roberto Carlos, Gilberto Silva, Ronaldo (Luizao 67),Rivaldo, Kleberson (Belleti 85), Edilson (Denilson 75).
Subs Not Used: Rogerio Ceni, Dida, Juninho Paulista, Junior, Kaka, Anderson Polga, Ricardinho, Vampeta.
Goal: Ronaldo 49.
Turkey: Rustu Recber, Bulent Korkmaz, Fatih Akyel, AlpayOzalan, Tugay Kerimoglu, Hakan Sukur (captain),Yildiray Basturk (Arif Erdem 88), Hasan Sas, Ergun Penbe, EmreBelozoglu (Ilhan Mansiz 61), Umit Davala (Muzzy Izzet 73).
Subs Not Used: Abdullah Ercan, Emre Asik, Nihat Kahveci, Okan Buruk, Omer Catkic, Umit Ozat, Tayfur Havutcu, Hakan Unsal, Zafer Ozgultekin.
Booked: Tugay, Sas.
| OFFICIAL MATCH STATS|
| || Brazil || Turkey|
|Goals || 1 || 0|
|Shots on goal || 18 || 9|
|Shots on target || 11 || 3|
|Fouls committed || 18 || 16|
|Corner kicks || 7 || 8|
|Penalty kicks || 0 || 0|
|Caught offside || 0 || 0|
|Own goals || 0 || 0|
|Yellow cards || 1 || 2|
|Red cards || 0 || 0|
|Ball possession (%) || 44 || 56|
|ACTUAL PLAYING TIME || |
|First half - 24 mins || Second half - 30 mins |
Referee: K Nielsen (Denmark).