Soccer: Instant that counts forever

YOKOHAMA - Germany's Oliver Kahn made just one mistake in the World Cup and it came at the most crucial moment of all - in the final.

With the scores level in the 67th minute, Kahn spilled a shot from Rivaldo and Ronaldo pounced on the loose ball to put Brazil ahead and on their way to a 2-0 victory.

"There is no consolation for this. I made my only mistake out of seven games and it was brutally punished," Kahn said yesterday.

"But we must not let one unlucky goal destroy our memories of this World Cup. We have put German football back where it belongs, which is extremely important for the four years to come," he added.

Kahn might have pushed the ball wide but chose to try to catch the shot, allowing the effort to tumble off his chest and give Ronaldo a straightforward opportunity.

It was the kind of shot Kahn has saved with comfort throughout his career and while there was nothing he could do about Ronaldo's second goal, the 33-year-old will be bitterly disappointed that the safest hands in football failed when they were needed most.

Kahn, an intense perfectionist who studies psychology and uses visualisation techniques to prepare for games, will now have a long break in which to contemplate the cruelty of his profession, where one error is remembered longer than any series of saves.

Before the game, Fifa had voted him goalkeeper of the tournament, in recognition of his outstanding displays throughout.

Few would argue with that verdict and Germany coach Rudi Voeller was right to point out the outstanding contribution his goalie made.

"Olli should not blame himself. We all know what we owe him and the fans back home know it as well. He must get over it and we will help him to do it.

"He's had a fantastic World Cup ... He was sensational. If he makes a small mistake, it's tough for him but really not a problem," Voeller said.

Up until the final Kahn had conceded just one goal in the cup and was instrumental in Germany's 1-0 win over the United States and the 2-0 victory over Cameroon in the group stage.

He made a number of key saves in the semifinal against South Korea.

In the first half of the final he produced another top-drawer save, foiling Ronaldo at close-range with an outstretched leg.

Then seven minutes after the break he showed skill and his characteristic courage to parry a header from Gilberto Silva and then throw himself at the feet of the Brazilian as he attempted to follow up.

That double-save prompted a chorus of "Olli, Olli" from German supporters behind his goal, but how many of them will remember that potentially decisive save now?

Perhaps when the pain of defeat has subsided Kahn will be able to put his error into perspective.

His performances in his first World Cup finals as first-choice German keeper have established him as the undisputed No 1 goalkeeper in the world.

For years in the shadow of Bodo Illgner, then Andreas Koepke, he was a reserve goalkeeper at the last two World Cup finals and was also on the bench when Germany tasted their last international triumph, at Euro 1996.

He will likely still be Germany's first-choice keeper in the European championships in 2004 and although he will be 37 when the World Cup comes to his homeland in four years, there are no signs yet that fitness will be a problem for him.

But for the moment Kahn will need consoling and it was heartening to see Brazil's captain, Cafu, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari and Italian referee Pierluigi Collina offer him consolation at the end of the final.

Germany will need to show similar sympathy for the man who was without doubt the hero of their unlikely transformation from outsiders to runners-up.

- REUTERS

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