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CNN Live At Daybreak

Brazil Celebrates World Cup Title

Aired July 01, 2002 - 06:35   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: In the world of sports, Brazil is celebrating its unprecedented fifth World Cup title. As you might imagine, fans went hog wild on the streets of Rio de Janeiro. They could not contain their joy over Brazil beating Germany 2 to nil in the finals. The celebration is expected to continue for days.

As you might imagine, the mood in Germany was more subdued. CNN's Alessio Vinci reports from Berlin.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is what losing a World Cup is all about: sadness, disappointment, even a few tears. But there is no anger among supporters here, just a lot of gratitude towards the team that many had predicted would not survive the first round of the World Cup. Germany, today, is back among the world's best.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They did a good game, but unfortunately, they lost, but it was already a good result that we have, you know, the second best in the whole world.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nobody expected the great victory of the German team. Now, we made it to the finals, so that's why most people are proud of our team.

VINCI (on camera): Germans knew they had little chance against Brazil, but hoped their star goalkeeper, Oliver Kahn, could lead them to victory. Tragically for them, it was a mistake by goalkeeper Kahn which allowed Brazil to score the first goal.

(voice-over): Khan failed to hold onto a shot, and when Brazilian striker Ronaldo put the ball in the net, a moan went through the crowd gathered in Berlin's Potsdamer Platz, interrupted only by the cheers of a handful of Brazilian supporters. Twelve minutes later came the second goal, and with it the realization the game was lost.

Still, it was difficult, if not impossible, to hear criticism against the goalkeeper.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Olli Kahn, he made one mistake, one mistake and that's all. If we didn't have Olli Kahn, we wouldn't have got to the final match. And so it's perfectly OK for him to make one mistake, and that's all that matters, because he is our hero. VINCI: So in the end, this was perceived here as a victory for all. For the Brazilians now undisputed world champions for a record fifth time, and for the Germans, who will host the next World Cup in 2006, this time with the clear intention to win it.

Alessio Vinci, CNN, Berlin.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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