Bluffer's guide to the world cup final

The teams
It's the blues against the blues - Les Bleus versus the Azzurri.

Despite an average age of nearly 30, France have defied creaking joints and ageing limbs to recover from a shaky start and march into the finals.

Italy are unbeaten in their past 24 games and have won a new legion of fans after dispensing with their defensive traditions and playing some attractive, attacking football.

Italy are the designated home team and will sport their familiar home blue colours, while France will play in their alternative white kit.

Who to support
If you're not Italian or French, you can choose which team to cheer.

The Italians probably edge the French as favourites. They are younger and have got stronger throughout the competition.

But if it's romance you're after, the French have Zinedine Zidane. Born in a Marseilles slum filled with North African immigrants, "Zizou" developed into the greatest footballer of his generation. He retired from international football, but returned for the World Cup after a voice in a dream told him to.

At 34, everyone said he was too old - and he looked it at first. But he has saved the best for last, producing some of the finest football of his career as he prepares to hang up his boots for good. If he wins it for France, it would be the final act of all final acts in the theatre of football.

Best players
Zidane, obviously, but the French also have goal-scorer Thierry Henry who seems to float past world-class players as though they are statues.

Italy boast Fabio Cannavaro, who has been the outstanding player of the tournament and is that rare thing - a defender who never seems to make a mistake. They also have goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who is widely seen as the best in the world.

Who else to look out for
Italy striker Luca Toni has scored twice, but even more impressively sounds like an archetype from a Mario Puzo novel and looks more Italian than spaghetti.

Similarly for France, winger Franck Ribery will terrorise defenders and couldn't look more French if he wore a beret and black-and-white striped sweater and rode a bike.

Things to say
"France's ageing stars have breathed life and romance into an increasingly prosaic tournament."

"I love Zizou. He is the greatest."

"I can't see the French beating Cannavaro and Buffon if they only play one up front."

"Italy's new brand of attacking football is excellent to watch."

What not to say
"The French are rude, snobbish and arrogant. As Homer Simpson said, they are cheese-eating surrender monkeys."

"The Italians are greasy, lazy and always diving."

Famous fans
When it comes to the World Cup, take your pick. After Italy's semifinal win over Germany, Prime Minister Romano Prodi joined the team in the changing room for a hearty rendition of O Sole Mio.

French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez has the obligatory footballer's model girlfriend, though it's Linda Evangelista so she's more supermodel than most.

The game

FIFA World Cup Final: France v Italy

Monday, 6am: Live on TV1, Sky Sport 1 and Sky Sport 3