World Cup Final preview: Italy v France

ITALY V FRANCE
Berlin, 7pm BST (BBC1 and ITV1)

All those qualifying matches around the globe, those 2pm kick-off group games we live blogged for you and those nervy knockout matches all boil down to one match between two European neighbours with plenty of World Cup history. Italy and France have both improved as the tournament has progressed, but I think Italy will edge it because of their defensive quality. The Italian team is built on a solid defence which has conceded just once so far this tournament. France have weak links in left-back Eric Abidal and the ever eccentric Fabien Barthez.

Team news Alessandro Nesta is still not fit to play, so the impressive Marco Materazzi will continue in his place. Daniele De Rossi is back from his four match ban, but is unlikely to regain his starting place at this late stage in the tournament. Louis Saha is suspended for France, but they would have been unlikely to use him anyway after his poor showing as a substitute in the semi-final against Portugal.

Prediction Italy 2-1 France

Rob Parker