TheFootballBlog.co.uk

Today will mark the seventh all-European World Cup final, and of the previous six Italy have been in three - winning them all. The last time the World Cup final had two European teams in was 1982 in Spain when Italy beat W.Germany 3-1.

If Fabien Barthez keeps a clean sheet today he will break the record for most World Cup clean sheets. He is currently equal with Peter Shilton with 10 clean sheets. He would also join a list of goalies who have all kept five clean sheets in one World Cup. Already in this list is the opposite keeper in today’s final Gianluigi Buffon. If he keeps a clean sheet today he will set a new record for the highest number of clean sheets in one World Cup. (This would be six) As CRELLIN wrote in his article ‘We’ll still win it without Wayne’ it is the defence that really wins you the World Cup, and the fact that both the keepers today have kept so many clean sheets goes to prove that point.

Today will also mark Zinedine Zidane’s last game for France. The 34-year-old captain of France led his nation to victory during the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 European Championship. So I’ll leave you with a collection of Zidane goals.

(I think Italy will win today)