Brazil's win sets up a rare 'dream matchup' for title

YOKOHAMA, Japan -- It's the missing matchup, the game soccer has waited 50 years to see.

Brazil and Germany, the sport's most dominant nations, have never met in the World Cup -- until now.

And what a place for their first meeting -- in the final, for the trophy, with all the world watching.

"It will be a dream matchup," Brazil's Roberto Carlos said after his team beat Turkey 1-0 Wednesday to move into its third straight final. A night earlier, Germany defeated South Korea by the same score in Seoul.

Brazil has won four of the last 12 World Cup titles and Germany three.

But, strangely, they've avoided each other in soccer's showcase. No Pele vs. Sepp Maier. No Franz Beckenbauer vs. Gylmar.

"Both teams have a great tradition," Brazilian forward Rivaldo said. "If Brazil wants to be champions, we have to respect Germany. Not fear them, respect them."

It's an unlikely time for the debut meeting, given that both nations struggled in qualifying and were considered by some long shots to even reach the quarterfinals.

Brazil was just 9-6-3 in qualifying -- unheard of mediocrity in the land of samba soccer -- getting in only with a victory over lowly Venezuela in its final game. Germany needed to beat Ukraine in a playoff to make it.

"Nobody really expected us to even go to the round of 16," Germany coach Rudi Voeller said.

Brazil, won the title in 1958, 1962, 1970 and 1994, praised much of the time for its flair-filled attacks. West Germany captured the championship in 1954, 1974 and 1990, sometimes denigrated for its lack of imagination -- and ability to flop in front of officials to gain unwarranted penalty kicks and restarts.