World Cup Final: Brazil player by player

Brazil and coach Luis Felipe Scolari have some great attacking options as they try for a fifth world title but have to earn the right to play against a well organised and tactical German side.

GOALKEEPERS

MARCOS

The first choice for coach Scolari and less prone to errors than his immediate rivals. A long kick and good positionally. Marcos is regularly excellent for Palmeiras with good reflexes and anticipation.

DIDA

On loan from Milan where he had a miserable spell, Dida is very tall and rangy which can make it difficult for him to make it down to low shots and he also has trouble with crosses but much more comfortable back in Brazilian football where he needs to show his passport made of crayon and tissue a little less frequently than Milan demanded.

ROGERIO

DEFENDERS

ROBERTO CARLOS

Plays well all over the pitch but is nominally a left sided defender who is pushed further into midfield during actual play. Easily one of the fastest runners in modern football he uses his speed to attack and defend and hits amazing free kicks from any distance with his left foot. If he plays as well as he has recently in Spain for Real Madrid, Carlos will be one of the stars of the tournament with every freekick an event in itself. He is a formidable defender who cannot be outrun and can dribble his way out of trouble before delivering excellent crosses. Very strong in the tackle. If his game has a weakness it is in the free kicks. They are certainly 'events' but they rarely go anywhere near the goal and are very over rated.

CAFU

Stocky and effective defensive midfielder who does plenty of fetching and carrying for his fellow players. Not as creative as some but is good at his job of dominating the midfield. He can also be a decent attacking option as he is rarely marked and can run on to loose balls. Sees the runs of others well and has the technique to get the ball to them.

BELETI

The reserve right back for Scolari but could always earn an instant promotion to the starting line up if Cafu speaks out of turn. Fans of aggro will want to see Beleti though. His broad interpretation of rules over tackling and contact with opponents rightly earn him the epithet of 'character'.

JUNIOR

A rock of a centre back despite Parma's problems in the Italian league this past season. Parma may have been relegated but for Junior's speed, decisiveness and anticipation. His presence made the loss of Lilian Thuram hurt a little less and he is arguably in much better form than the Frenchman of late. A complete defensive game and contrasts well with the players around him.

LUCIO

Dazzling, marauding centre back cum play maker whose stylish defending and contribution to attacks make him one of the most highly-prized defenders in Europe. Very fast and still young, Madrid like Lucio and hope for marriage. Does not neglect the comedy aspects of the game despite his amazing talent and punched a team mate in the face to enliven an Olympic Games in 2000 but German discipline at Bayer Leverkusen has knocked out that aspect of his game which is still developing in exciting ways.

ROQUE JUNIOR

The Milan player can cover across midfield or in defensive positions but likely to feature as a back marker if he makes it into the team. A substitute defender may be his only contribution to the action although he often records unspectacular but effective games for Milan.

ANDERSON POLGA

Rugged centre back coveted seriously since the start of the year by AS Roma, Polga will be one of the players attracting scouting interest in the Brazilian squad. Calm and assured defending make him a good option in the centre of defence and he is good in the air but may not be an automatic starter for the cautious Scolari.

EDMILSON

Excellent season at centre back for Lyon saw Edmilson with the French title. A move to Arsenal collapsed two years ago in the fake passports scandal but he is now coveted by Bayern Munich among others. A real physical presence and confident on the ball, Edmilson is a smooth tackler who can develop into a real star.

MIDFIELDERS

GILBERTO SILVA

Great recent form has seen Silva become hard to ignore for Scolari. He is set to start for Brazil with his natural instincts being used to cover the defence and allow more fragile talents such as Juninho the protection and the space to operate at their best. Commanding in the tackle and another one whose future looks like being in Europe.

KLEBERSON

All-round midfield game based on hard work and discipline. Kleberson is a recent addition to the squad and his unfashionable background has not prevented Scolari from singling him out for praise which is rare for the coach. This must mean he follows Scolari's orders well and concentrates his energy on defending.

RICARDINHO

The Corinthians player was an emergency replaceemnt for captain Emerson who broke dislocated his shoulder in a training accident befroe the first game against Turkey.

Ricardinho is the sort of midfield chaser Scolari likes to have around but made only three appearances in qualifiers and cannot matach Emerson's willingness to foul as he tries to dominate midfield. Reasonable link player but not exactly essential until now. Gilberto Silva may be preffered ahead of him.

MARCIO VAMPETA

Posed nude, with soccer accoutrements adoring all his smut pictures, in a magazine when a star for Corinthians and then embarrassed Inter even further with one of their worst ever transfer deals - which is really saying something. The Milan club spent £13 million on this plain and unimaginative midfielder and then sent him on loan to PSG after just 60 days at the club. He was then sent from PSG to Flamengo where his form picked up a little and he really got lucky when Scolari saw his return to Corinthians. Scolari is keen for every midfielder, bar one, to make full use of the squad ball and Vampeta is happy to oblige.

RONALDINHO

PSG are pleased with his progress and he has all the talent to be a big star. One full season with the French club is not indicative of greatness yet but he retains speed and close control from his sensational early games when he starred for Brazil at the 1999 Copa America. Plays a withdrawn role for the French club but can attack. His orders from Scolari will indicate if the Brazilian coach really will go all out for stalemate.

JUNINHO

Lyrical runner with the ball, Juninho says he wants to return to former love Atletico but his current loan spell with Flamengo has only just started. He was excellent last season for Vasco da Gama and remains one of the few bright spots in a dour Brazilian team. Vision and poise creates great chances for the front runners ahead of him and he could be a real star over the next few weeks.

KAKA

A wide player who can also cover in several midfield positions, Kaka is set to see action as a substitute but probably only if Brazil are leading. Brazil played a mammoth 18 qualifying games to reach the finals and went through four coaches. These four team bosses, including Scolari, went through 62 players for their squads and still never reached Kaka. A World Cup secret weapon, perhaps ?

STRIKERS

DENILSON

Outstanding attacker who could make a big mark in the tournament if he is given a place in the starting side. Less effective as a substitute but plays well with the other attacking greats in the side and is an excellent passer who can withstand heavy challenges in midfield when he has the ball. A fine shot who is always an available option for the attack if Ronaldo is too tightly marked as Denilson begins his runs from deep and often arrives late in the box.

RIVALDO

He is one of the most complete midfielders ever; he can pass, shot, run and do things with the ball that had never been seen before. He is also able to understand any kind of system and adapt to it as long as he is given a bit of freedom to do whatever he likes and, especially, to move wherever he wants. But injuries and doubts over his future have drained his presence on the field. He rarely impresses for Brazil and plays as if weighed down by his own disappointment.

RONALDO

The scorer of nearly three hundred goals in five years as a professional until the 1998 World Cup finals and disaster struck.

The truth may never be known about the 'convulsions' just hours ahead of the World Cup final. Exceptionally fast and strong runner with ball and good in the air with two great feet his outstanding dribbling ability can wreck a world class defence. But he is still haunted by the events four years ago that heralded a spiral of injuries which he is only now emerging from. A hard worker for the side through his goals scored he is the supreme finisher who will bide his time waiting for the ball to get to him to capitalise on few chances he gets in world class competition. A natural finisher at his best but the next few days will prove just how much pf the old Ronaldo is alive and kicking.

EDILSON

The strike partner for R****io at Vasco da Gama but he has not been blamed for Scolari's decision to dump the leading scorer in the qualifiers ahead of these finals. FIFA have now instructed most cheating and diving and feigning of injuries by players to be described as 'simulation'. They mean cheating but it must be called 'simulation' for these finals. In deference to that well-run and not corrupt organisation, Edmilson can be described as a master of 'simulation'. Not a true master of the black arts but he forgets most of the time that his feet are for standing on. It can almost be guaranteed as well that if he plays match officials - in deference to the Myth Of Brazil 1970 - will not book or sanction the player. Hilariously backs corrupt politicians with inept speeches at election times to endear him to fans. Long term feuds with several senior players could see again the seating arrangement trick used by Romario to help team spirit back in 1998. On the plane to France, Romario was booked to sit next to former strike partner Bebeto and was so furious he threatened to quit the World Cup before injury later claimed him anyway. Edilson studies long and hard at this school of charm.

LUIZAO

Instinctive finisher who does not over-play when he gets the chance to score. Unfussed and unhurried he kicks the ball in the net. It is unlikely his radical style of attacking play will see much action at the finals with the return of Ronaldo to fitness and the pressing business of selling shirts to Japanese fans. He does not contribute to build-up play well but that does not matter if others around him contribute and set him up for the decisive finish he specialises in.