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Italy has stronger resume, France a recent pedigree
While the Azzuri have 3 WC titles, Les Bleus carry an impressive list of victims. Referee | Fan fest | Romans v Gauls | Stadia
Italy brings a formidable resume of three World Cup titles and five appearances in the final. France brings the stronger pedigree in this tournament.
While there can be no question both teams earned their spots in Sunday's championship game at Berlin's Olympic Stadium, the French carry the more impressive list of victims: Spain, Brazil and Portugal.
Compared to beating Australia, Ukraine and Germany to get to the title match, as Italy did in the knockout rounds, well, France's portfolio is better.
That doesn't make the 1998 champions the favourite; Italy is the choice on most betting lines. But the French were underdogs against the Spaniards, who easily won their first-round group, and the Brazilians, the pre-tournament favourites. Les Bleus were vastly better than both opponents.
And while France wasn't particularly impressive in the semifinal win over Portugal, it squeezed through.
"We came to this World Cup and didn't know what would happen," defensive leader Lilian Thuram said. "Sometimes you leave and say, `It will be the semifinal or the final.' Not us, we had to take it step by step. And then we bonded."
As have the Azzurri.
Italy, seeking its first championship since 1982, has been one of soccer's traditional powers since the World Cup began in 1930. But, just like 24 years ago, it was considered an outsider for this title.
As in '82, the Azzurri are dealing with a scandal tearing apart the national sport back home. And they have rallied together in an incredible display of camaraderie - not to mention brilliant technical soccer - to reach their first final since losing to Brazil in 1994.
"I have great admiration," France coach Raymond Domenech said of the Italians. "They battle forever. It will be a real test for France.
"Against Italy, we always have interesting matches. There is a special emotion, since so many players have played there. Italy remains an eternal benchmark."
Still, the French measured up spectacularly against the biggest array of talent at Germany 2006, the Brazilians. And nobody has lifted his team more than captain Zinedine Zidane, a three-time player of the year headed into retirement after Sunday's match.
