However, France had to rely on Switzerland not allowing South Korea to qualify for the knockout stages ahead of them, as beat Togo without the suspended Zinedine Zidane set them on their way.
Arsene Wenger said: "Zidane has taken France all the way to the final, where I always expected the French team to be. I was also pleased Thierry Henry's got the recognition he's deserved for years at the top level. I didn't need the World Cup to know that was a world-class player. If you looked at the quality of the players in the team you cannot say they didn't have a chance. Although they had a bad start I knew they would qualify from the group and once in the knock-out stage experience became very important. They were patient, waiting for the first mistake their opponent made and exploiting that, while not making a mistake themselves. They have done that better than anyone else. The fact they were highly criticised created good cohesion in the team.
In many ways the Italians are the same, criticism hasn't undermined them, it's carried them on to the final. Italy have shown that their football is bigger than their (match-fixing) scandal." (The Sunday Mirror)
Martin Jol writes in The Sunday Times: ‘Most of Italy's preferred starting line-up play for clubs involved in the scandal, which could be relegated if guilty verdicts are returned: Italy's skipper, Fabio Cannavaro, goalkeeper Gigi Buffon (both Juventus) and midfielder Gennaro Gattuso (Milan) are among those who know that after the high of playing in the biggest game of their lives tonight, they could face their worst depression. Cannavaro and Co may feel they have to win today. The determination of the Italians gives them the slight edge on France. It is a difficult final to call. France, with Zidane back from the proverbial dead and Henry capable of winning any game out of nothing, are maybe slightly better in terms of quality. There is a lovely balance about the French team, with Florent Malouda and Franck Ribery providing width and Zidane bringing his magic to the game in a position behind Henry. Claude Makelele is as important for his national team as he is for Chelsea, and William Gallas and Lilian Thuram are almost but not quite unequalled as centre-backs.'
Unlike his rival, the Spurs coach has seen enough this tournament from the Italians to predict an Azzurri triumph in Berlin this evening.
He adds, ‘Italy have a little more mental strength. It comes from something so deep within them you can only describe it as rising from their culture. But both teams play in a similar style, transition football. Their idea is to win the ball and launch quick strikes when their opponents are out of position. With Buffon behind the back four, this is another department in which Italy maybe have a little edge. Fabio Grosso and Gianluca Zambrotta are like rockets coming forward. And talking of Italy's attacking potential, don't underestimate their strikers. Luca Toni is a true danger, and Vincenzo Iaquinta, Alberto Gilardino and Alessandro Del Piero give Lippi great options to bring off the bench. Then there is Francesco Totti and Andrea Pirlo. Neither player is another Zidane — nobody is — but both are great playmakers in their own right.'