Tight final in prospect

A tight, technical, low-scoring affair is in prospect for tomorrow's World Cup final between France and Italy if the history of their previous meetings in the tournament is repeated. In four games from 1938 stretching across 60 years to 1998, they have met twice in Paris, in the quarter-finals, once in Mexico, in a second round contest, and once in Mar del Plata, Argentina, in an opening-round group clash.

Only once, in Paris, on June 12, 1938, has either side scored three goals - holders Italy winning that first confrontation in the finals 3-1 thanks to two second-half strikes from Silvio Piola.

The Italians went on to beat Brazil 2-1 in a semi-final played at the Velodrome in Marseille and then defeated Hungary 4-2 in the final in Paris, Piola scoring twice more.

Forty years later, they met on the second day of the 1978 finals at Mar del Plata, the Italians winning again, 2-1, despite Bernard Lacombe heading France in front after 37 seconds.

This was the France team, coached by Michel Hidalgo and led by superb goalscoring midfielder Michel Platini which developed into the side that reached the 1982 and 1986 semi-finals and in between won the 1984 European Championship on home soil.

Italy, however, had an experienced team and after Paolo Rossi equalised, substitute Renato Zaccarelli scored the winner early in the second half.

The third meeting, in the second round of the 1986 finals in Mexico, saw France win for the first time, Michel Platini, in sublime individual form, and Yannick Stopyra scoring the goals in a 2-0 victory at the Olympic Stadium.

It was a result that began to tip the balance towards the French. But it was to be another 12 years before they met again - in the 1998 quarter-finals at the Stade de France in Paris, where the French squeezed through to the last four with a 4-3 penalty shoot-out triumph following a goalless draw.

Five of the Frenchmen who took part in that tight struggle are still on duty for tomorrow's final in Berlin - Fabien Barthez, Lilian Thuram, David Trezeguet, Thierry Henry and Zidane - but only two of the Italians, outstanding captain and central defender Fabio Cannavaro and Alessandro Del Piero.