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This is the first World Cup I can remember at which defenders and midfielders have impressed more than strikers.

Usually one great goalscorer emerges from every World Cup, like Ronaldo four years ago. But this time, it has been players such as Philipp Lahm and Fabio Cannavaro who have taken the eye, while the goal scoring duties have been spread around.

For Italy, 10 players have scored the 11 goals they have needed to reach the final, and for France, four players have shared their meager total of eight goals in six games so far.

Perhaps this change of emphasis at the top international level is one reason why France’s semifinal win over Portugal was difficult to analyze.

The French have a good, solid defense but I had expected them to push forward more strongly out of midfield. I also expected more power here from the Portuguese - particularly with Felipe Scolari as coach - but they didn’t rise to the occasion.

It was as if they failed to realize the importance of a semifinal and approached it instead like a group game.

Italy’s victory over Germany was a different matter, and it was a happy surprise to see the Azzurri coming out to play attacking football at last. I assume they intend to play a similar way against France in Berlin but, because Italy’s defense is better than their attack, I can foresee another tight game.

France have enormous experience when it comes to big occasions - I take their failure in 2002 as an almost unbelievable accident - but I am afraid that by this 64th and last game of this World Cup, it is the Italians who will be in better shape regarding fitness and condition.

Zinedine Zidane had said he would retire after this World Cup, so it is like a gift from God that he can play his very last game in the Final. He has scored two important goals, one against Spain and then the penalty against Portugal. But I can imagine Genaro Gattuso will pay him close attention.

I have another concern for France in that using Thierry Henry as a lone striker has denied him the support he needs to score goals the way he does in the English Premiership.

That factor will be even more of a problem now. Not only will Italy be better organized in defense than Portugal, but they also have more variety in attack through creative players such as Francesco Totti and Andrea Pirlo.

Hopefully, whoever wins, the final will be a suitable climax to the cleanest World Cup I can ever remember.

Maybe, early on, some of the referees were too quick with the yellow cards, but the general standard of officiating has been very much for the good of the game in general and this World Cup in particular.

This is an important point worth mentioning. Fans - and players and coaches - are quick to criticize referees when a decision goes against them, so it is only fair to praise referees for making overwhelming the right decisions.

For me this was one of the reasons why we had so many goals - and so many spectacular ones - in the opening phase of the tournament.

It also helped immensely that all the players were give a four-week break from club competition before the finals. This is a feature which FIFA must keep in the international calendar for the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.

The overall organization here in Germany has been a model for any future World Cup, though two points might usefully be considered for next time.

Firstly, I think the semifinals should be played on the same day so that neither team has a day’s advantage before the final. Secondly, I think a day or two’s break is needed between the end of the group games and the start of the knockout matches in the second round.

Finally, praise for the fans. Before the finals, all the talk was fearful, about security concerns and hooliganism. But there has been no trouble in the World Cup stadia at all, and the host fans of Germany have really helped to generate an exciting, passionate and friendly atmosphere, which was great to see.

It’s been a wonderful party.